Additional Report from Agency
AKURE, Nigeria (ChatnewsTV) — Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the winner of Ondo State’s governorship election, securing a renewed mandate to lead the state.
The announcement was made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, following Saturday’s vote.
“I thank Ondo for the renewed mandate given to me to be their governor beyond 2025, and I promise to serve them,” Aiyedatiwa said, addressing journalists in Akure shortly after his victory was confirmed.
According to INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi Durotimi, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Aiyedatiwa received a total of 366,781 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes. Olorunfemi Festus of the Labour Party (LP) and Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) trailed behind, with LP securing 1,162 votes.
The All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate and incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has emerged winner of the Ondo State Governorship election held on Saturday.
Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, the Returning Officer of INEC and Vice Chancellor of University of Lokoja, on Sunday in Akure, declared Aiyedatiwa winner after results from the 18 local government areas were received and counted.
Mr Akinwumi said that the APC candidate, Aiyedatiwa polled 366,781 votes to defeat his closet rival, Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who polled 117,845 votes.
Neyo Adeyemi of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, came a distant third, polling 4,138 votes.
“I Olayemi Akinwumi hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2024 off-cyle Ondo State Governorship election held on the Nov. 16, 2024
“The election was contested and Lucky Aiyedatiwa of APC polled 366,781 while Ajayi Agboola of PDP scored 117,845.
“I Olayemi Akinwumi announce that Aiyedatiwa Lucky Orimisan of APC having satisfied the requirements of the law is here by declare the winner and return elected,” he said.
Mr Aiyedatiwa defeated Ajayi, a former deputy governor during the first term of the late Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu, and 14 other contenders in the 18 LGA of the state.
The election held on Saturday was generally reported as peaceful and without any incidence of violence and ballot snatching.
Editor: Gabriel Ani