Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the ruling All Progressives Congress has been declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission after sweeping the 18 local government areas in Ondo.
In the final declaration of the result by the State Returning Officer, Olayemi Akinwumi, on Sunday, he announced APC’s Ayedatiwa polled a total of 366,781 votes to defeat Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, who got 117,845 votes.
Having been declared the winner of the election, Aiyedatiwa is set to extend his stay at the helm of affairs in the oil-rich state. As a former deputy governor, he ascended to power on December 27th, 2023 after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s death.
Meanwhile, the reinstated Labour Party governorship candidate in Ondo State, Ayodele Olorunfemi, has bemoaned his failure to win Saturday’s election, blaming the LP presidential candidate , Peter Obi, and the Nigeria Labour Congress for his predicament.
Olorunfemi’s loss comes a few days after INEC returned his name on the ballot as LP flag bearer for the November 16 poll, following a ruling by the Court of Appeal.
Following weeks of suspense, Olorunfemi heaved a sigh of relief when the Court of Appeal in Abuja vacated an earlier judgment by the Federal High Court ordering the electoral umpire to recognise Obi’s anointed candidate, Olusola Ebiseni.