The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as the winner of the governorship election held on Saturday in Ondo State.
The announcement was made by the Returning Officer, Professor Olayemi Akinwunmi, at the state collation center located at INEC headquarters, Alagbaka, Akure.
Prof. Akinwunmi, who also serves as the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja, declared Aiyedatiwa elected at precisely 2:29 PM.
According to the official results, Aiyedatiwa secured a commanding 366,781 votes, defeating his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes. Adeyemi Nejo of the African Democratic Party (ADP) finished third with 4,138 votes.
“Aiyedatiwa Lucky Orimisan of the APC, having satisfied all the requirements of the law and scored the majority of lawful votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” declared Akinwunmi, a professor of African history.
The incumbent governor achieved a clean sweep by winning all 18 local government areas in the state, securing a landslide victory.
The election, characterized by reports of vote-buying and low voter turnout, was largely peaceful across Ondo State.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who took office in December 2023 following the death of his predecessor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has now been elected to serve a full four-year term as the governor of Ondo State.
