Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared the winner of the state’s 2024 governorship election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially announced the results following a closely contested race on Saturday. Aiyedatiwa, who sought re-election, secured the highest number of votes, defeating his main challengers, including Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olorunfemi Festus of the Labour Party (LP), and Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
INEC’s Returning Officer for the election, Professor Akinwumi Olayemi Durotimi, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, made the formal announcement in Akure, the state capital. According to the official results, Aiyedatiwa garnered a total of 366,781 votes, securing a decisive victory in the race. His closest rival, Ajayi Agboola of the PDP, trailed with 117,845 votes. The Labour Party candidate, Olorunfemi Festus, received a distant 1,162 votes, while Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party garnered a much lower number of votes.
In his victory speech, Aiyedatiwa expressed his gratitude to the people of Ondo State for their support. “I am deeply humbled by the trust and confidence the people of Ondo State have shown in me,” he said. “This victory is not just mine; it is a victory for all the good people of Ondo who have chosen progress and continuity. I promise to remain committed to the development of our state and to work tirelessly to improve the lives of our people.”
Aiyedatiwa’s victory marks a significant political achievement for the APC in Ondo State. The state has been a stronghold for the party, and Aiyedatiwa’s success is expected to bolster the APC’s position in the region. His campaign focused on continuing the policies of his predecessor, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who had a significant impact on the state’s infrastructure, security, and education sectors during his tenure.
The election, however, was not without its challenges. Tensions were high as party supporters and stakeholders expressed concerns over electoral integrity and fairness. There were reports of some incidents of electoral malpractices, including allegations of vote-buying and logistical issues with the distribution of voting materials. Despite these challenges, INEC confirmed that the election proceeded without major disruptions and that the results were a reflection of the will of the people.
Ajayi Agboola, the PDP candidate and former deputy governor of the state, congratulated Aiyedatiwa for his victory but expressed dissatisfaction with the electoral process. “While I accept the result, we must continue to push for electoral reforms and ensure that the process becomes more transparent and fair,” Agboola said in his statement. “We owe it to the people of Ondo to ensure that future elections are free from irregularities.”
