*Tinubu, Buhari, Ganduje, Barau, APC, others greet winner
*How Sanwo-Olu’s leadership paved way for victory
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja, and Returning Officer for the poll, Professor Olayemi Akinwunmi, announced the results at 2:30pm at the INEC headquarters, in Akure.
Aiyedatiwa won in all the 18 local governments in the state.
Congratulatory messages started coming in for the winner soon after his declaration by INEC, with President Bola Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, leading the park.
Interestingly, politicians and party stakeholders, never ceased to talk about how Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who chaired the campaign committee of APC for the election, motivated members to victory in an exercise that initially seemed intricate.
However, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, accused INEC and the security agencies of compromising the election.
Ajayi advised the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu,, to resign.
Civil society groups, including the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), reacted to the outcome of the election.
Announcing the results, Akinwunmi said Aiyedatiwa polled a total of 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ajayi, who scored 117,845 votes, while ZLP’s Dr Abbas Mimiko, younger brother of former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, came a distant third with 2,692 votes.
He said the total valid votes were 497, 077, and rejected votes were 11,886, while total votes cast was 508,963.
Akinwunmi stated, “That Lucky Aiyedatiwa of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,”
The breakdown of the results showed that in Akoko North East, APC garnered 25,657 votes to defeat PDP, which scored 5,072 votes.
In Idanre Local Government Area (LGA), APC also won with 9,114 votes against PDP’s 8,940 votes, and in Ifedore LGA, APC defeated PDP, scoring 14, 157 votes against PDP’s 5,897 votes.
In Akoko South West, APC also won with 29,700 votes, while PDP got 5,517 votes, and in Akoko North West, APC recorded a landslide victory with 25,010 votes against PDP’s 5,502 votes.
APC won in Akoko South East, with 12,140 votes, while PDP got 2,692, and the ruling party also defeated PDP in Ileoluji/Okeigbo LGA with 16,600 votes against PDP’s 4,442.
In Owo LGA, APC got 31,914 votes to defeat PDP, which scored 4,740 votes, and APC also won in Ondo East with 8,163 votes, while PDP scored 2,843 votes.
The results showed that APC won in Ondo West, with 20,755 votes, against PDP’s 6,387 votes, and in Irele, APC scored 17,117 votes to beat PDP, which had 6,601 votes.
APC also won in Akure South with 32,969 votes, while PDP got 17,926 votes. In Ose LGA, APC recorded a landslide victory with 16,555 votes against PDP’s 4,472 votes.
The results for Okitipupa LGA showed that APC polled 26,811 votes, while PDP scored 10,233 votes, and in Akure North LGA, APC scored 14,451 votes but PDP only garnered 5,787 votes.
In Odigbo LGA, APC scored 26,683 votes while PDP polled 9,348. In Ilaje LGA, APC garnered 24,474 votes while PDP scored 3,632 votes.
APC also defeated Agboola Ajayi in his local government, Ese-Odo with 14,511 votes when PDP polled 7,814 votes.
On December 27, 2023, Aiyedatiwa was sworn-in as Governor of Ondo State, following the death of his principal and former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
Constitutionally, Aiyedatiwa stepped in to complete the joint tenure of the late Akeredolu and himself by February 2025.
With his declaration as winner of the election, Aiyedatiwa will occupy Alagbaka Government House for four years after the expiration of the current dispensation on February 25, 2025.
Ajayi accused INEC and the security agencies of compromising the election and urged Yakubu to resign.
The PDP candidate, who voted at Unit 4, Ward 2, Idumado in Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA, expressed displeasure at the conduct of the election
Ajayi said it took more than 10 minutes for the INEC BVAS to capture him, saying, “The system is not perfect and there are lots of complainants here and there. If INEC cannot successfully organise an election in just one state, then you must know that we are running into anarchy.
“I think it is deliberate on the part of INEC, on the part of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). And we have said several times that we don’t trust Oluwatoyin Babalola (REC). That this woman cannot be fair.
“The system is compromised and we have a series of calls made by everybody. People are complaining about vote-buying, the BVAS problem. It is a very shameful exercise.
“And I think people should call on the INEC chairman to resign if he cannot do the job. He should just resign. It is totally compromised. This is sad and Nigerians are not happy. Here, it is peaceful to some extent.”
Nonetheless, Aiyedatiwa promised to continually run an inclusive and participatory government, where every citizen had a voice and an opportunity to contribute to the state’s collective progress.
He called on his main opponent, Ajayi, and other candidates to collaborate with him in the task of building a better Ondo State for the overall good of the people.
Aiyedatiwa stated, in a speech soon after the announcement of the results and his declaration as winner, “My fellow citizens of Ondo State, I stand before you this day, on the threshold of history, to accept the results of the 2024 gubernatorial elections held in our Sunshine State.
“I must say that I feel greatly humbled and honoured by this renewed mandate you have given me to continue in office as your Governor. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and I pledge to work tirelessly to justify the trust you have reposed in me.”
Aiyedatiwa thanked INEC for conducting a free, fair, and credible election. He also thanked the security agencies for being professional in their assignment and maintaining peace throughout the exercise.
The governor stated, “I must appreciate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Amhed Tinubu, GCFR for providing exemplary leadership and also ensuring a level playing ground in the just concluded election.
“I also thank my party, All Progressives Congress, under the able leadership of the National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulahi Umar Ganduje, the National Campaign Council of Ondo Governorship Election led by the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, We have enjoyed your unwavering support throughout this journey.
“To the state chairman and working committee of our party, campaign team, my family and friends, we couldn’t have achieved this huge success without your love, commitment, encouragement, and hard work. I also acknowledge and thank members of the Press for your effective coverage of the voting exercise.
“As your governor, I promise to continue to run an inclusive and participatory government, where every citizen has a voice and an opportunity to contribute to our collective progress. We will continue to prioritise the welfare of our people, foster economic growth, and ensure that our state remains a beacon of hope and prosperity for generations to come.
“Now that the elections are over, it is time to rededicate ourselves to the service of our dear State. I, therefore, want to extend a hand of fellowship to the opposition parties and to invite you to collaborate with us in the onerous task of building a better Ondo State for the overall good of our people. Let us put aside our differences and work together to create a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and our communities.”
THISDAY gathered that the choice of Sanwo-Olu saved APC and its candidate in terms of organisation and mobilisation, all of which were almost messed up at the last minute.
Sources in Ondo State said but for experience and timely deployment of logistics by Sanwo-Olu, in his capacity as the campaign chairman of the party, the result would have gone either way, particularly against APC.
But immediately Sanwo-Olu arrived, and working clinically on the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of their party and candidate, he was able to identify areas needing concentration.
Key party sources, who spoke to THISDAY, commended Sanwo-Olu for going all out and leaving nothing to chance in ensuring that the APC candidate won convincingly.
THE FELICITATIONS, REACTIONS
Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu rejoiced with Aiyedatiwa on his victory and praised the peaceful conduct of the election.
The president, in a release by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, congratulated Aiyedatiwa and other candidates of the 17 political parties for the maturity and sense of purpose demonstrated during the campaigns and the election. He attributed the success of the polls to the civility in the state.
He enjoined the political actors to allow their orderly conduct to permeate the post-election activities and processes.
Tinubu believed the Ondo State election was another litmus test of the capacity of INEC, affirming that the electoral body justified the confidence of the people, with early preparation, deployment of staff and materials, and handling of the electoral process.
The president also commended INEC for the efficiency of uploading more than 98 per cent of results on the same day of the election.
Tinubu extended his appreciation to the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Youth Service Corps, the military, and other security outfits for their professionalism in maintaining peace and order.
He urged candidates dissatisfied with the outcome of the election to explore the opportunities provided by the judicial system to seek redress on areas of conflict.
Muhammadu Buhari
Former President Muhammadu Buhari expressed happiness with the success of APC in the governorship election in Ondo State, which returned Aiyeditawa as governor.
The ex-president, in a release by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the voters spoke lucidly and loudly about the confidence they had in the party and the governor, and their wish expressed through the ballot box should be respected by other stakeholders.
According to Buhari, while the election outcome has shown that democracy remained strong and could not be easily overturned in a country as large and diverse as Nigeria, it was equally a challenge to the governor-elect to put in place policies that would engender economic growth.
Such policies, he added, must also tame high unemployment and inflation, and pursue welfare programmes to make life better for the people.
Buhari commended INEC and the law enforcement agencies for the efforts they to put into reducing observed shortcomings in previous elections, while wishing Aiyeditawa and his team a successful tenure in office.
Abdulahi Ganduje
National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, described Aiyedatiwa’s victory as the triumph of democracy. Ganduje added that it was not just a win for APC but also a triumph for the enduring will of the people.
Ganduje, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, said the remarkable success was a testament to the trust and confidence the people of Ondo State had in his vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their well-being.
He added that the victory of the party in Edo and Ondo states was an attestation that Nigerians had embraced APC as their party.
Ganduje said the party would remain in power for a very long time.
“The election was a clear reflection of the collective aspirations of the good people of Ondo State, who have chosen continuity, progress, and development over retrogression,” he said.
National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, in a statement, said Aiyedatiwa’s resounding victory was a clear attestation of his administration’s policies and programmes, and campaign message of hope.
Morka stated, “With this renewed mandate, we are confident that you will build upon your accomplishments, and take the state to even greater heights of social and economic development for the benefit of the good people of Ondo state.
“We commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for their professionalism and patriotism in the discharge of their constitutional roles during the election.”
Jibrin Barau
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, described the victory of APC as the endorsement of the Tinubu administration by the people of the state.
Barau, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, commended INEC for upholding the people’s will, as expressed by their votes.
He also applauded the visionary leadership of Ganduje, which, according to him, has given the party more cohesion and ultimately led to the party’s victory in the election and other off-cycle elections in Imo, Kogi and Edo states.
“The victory of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State is well-deserved,” he said.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Chairman of APC National Campaign Council for Ondo State Governorship Election, and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, congratulated Aiyedatiwa on his victory.
Sanwo-Olu, in a congratulatory message he personally signed and issued in Akure, commended the people of Ondo State for their unflinching support and continued belief in the ruling party, APC.
He said the work of the campaign council was made a lot easier by the good job the late immediate past Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had done, which had been built on by Aiyedatiwa.
Sanwo-Olu expressed his appreciation to Tinubu for providing the right leadership and charting the right direction for Nigeria’s social-economic transformation.
He stated, “I want to thank the good people of Ondo State for their unflinching support and continued belief in our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC!
“This belief and support for our party have been demonstrated a number of times, including the past governorship elections, the local government elections and the presidential election that ushered in the Renewed Hope team of our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“As progressives, you have stood by us through difficult times, and now, the good times are here because you came out in numbers yesterday, defying the hot scorching sun, and waited on the queues for hours to cast your ballot for our candidate, your governor, Mr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and his deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami.
“As always, you roundly rejected those other political parties that represent nothing but retrogression, and you voted for progress. For this, we say thank you.”
Biodun Oyebanji
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, while congratulating Aiyedatiwa on his victory, described his electoral triumph as an endorsement of good governance under the APC administration in Ondo State.
Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, also said it was a vote of confidence in the leadership of Tinubu.
The Ekiti State governor expressed gratitude to the electorate in Ondo State for keeping their trust in the ruling APC, based on verifiable indices of good governance since the party came to power in the neighbouring state in 2016.
Oyebanji pointed out that the victory recorded by Aiyedatiwa and APC had put a fresh challenge on the Ondo State governor to do more for the people of the state who defied the odds to give him a fresh mandate.
Usman Ododo
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, described Aiyedatiwa’s victory as the result of hard work and strategic planning by the leadership and members of the party, who were determined to ensure APC retained power in the state.
Ododo, who served as the deputy chairman of the committee on election management and strategy, and coordinated election operation in Ondo North senatorial district, expressed optimism that Aiyedatiwa would continue the development trajectory, which APC had been known for in the state.
He stated, “We have known Governor Aiyedatiwa. He has been tested and can be trusted to continue the good work of the APC administration in Ondo state. We have no doubt that he will build on existing infrastructure, social welfare and security of lives and property across the state.
“I am confident that he will succeed with this new mandate, which is a further boost to the popularity and acceptance of the APC in Ondo state.”
Muhammadu Yahaya
Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Yahaya, said Aiyedatiwa’s victory had solidified his mandate to steer the state for another term.
According to a press release by Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House, Ismaila Misilli, Yahaya described Aiyedatiwa’s win as a well-deserved triumph that reflected the trust and confidence the Ondo electorate had in his leadership.
He stated that the margin of victory was a clear indication of the widespread support for the APC governance model and its national leadership under Tinubu.
While urging Aiyedatiwa to continue to uphold the party’s ethos of service delivery and good governance, Yahaya enjoined the governor to continue to prioritise the welfare of Ondo people and to maintain the momentum in delivering developmental projects that will positively impact lives.
Dapo Abiodun
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, described Aiyedatiwa’s victory as an affirmation of the people’s will and endorsement of his pro-people agenda.
In his congratulatory message, Abiodun emphasised that Aiyedatiwa’s victory was not only well-deserved but also a testament to the outstanding performance of APC in the state.
He stated, “This victory reflects the unwavering support of the people for our party’s vision and dedication,” he said, highlighting the APC focus on an issue-based campaign, which resonated deeply with the electorate.
“This victory not only signifies a milestone for Aiyedatiwa but also reinforces the APC’s stronghold in Ondo State, paving the way for continued progress and development.”
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s Group
The BTO Political Family appreciated the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (BTO), for his contribution to Aiyedatiwa’s victory in the Ondo State election.
The group stated that Tunji-Ojo’s political influence was once again on full display as Akoko North West Local Government Area, his constituency, emerged with the highest votes for APC.
“This landslide result played a pivotal role in securing Governor Aiyedatiwa’s victory, further reinforcing the APC’s dominance in Ondo State,” BTO stated. It added that this was not the first time Tunji-Ojo had delivered such ground-breaking results.
CSOs Decry Vote Buying
Three Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) stated that deployed observers for the Ondo State election condemned vote trading that tainted the polls across the state.
The CSOs – Yiaga Africa, Civil Society Situation Room, and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) – highlighted the timely arrival of voting materials at many polling centres during their post-election media briefings on Saturday in Akure.
They, however, lamented the persistence of vote trading, even in the presence of security agents, and called for urgent action to address the problem.
Chairman of the 2024 Ondo Election Mission for Yiaga Africa, Ezenwa Nwagwu, stated that political parties and their candidates were responsible for the widespread practice of vote buying.
Nwagwu stated, “Yiaga Africa observed widespread vote buying across several polling units, which is becoming a permanent feature of our electoral process. We strongly condemn this practice as it fosters electoral corruption and political inequality.
“We commend the Department of State Security for arresting an individual allegedly involved in vote trading at the St. Stephen Polling Unit in Ward 4, Akure.
“Yiaga Africa holds political parties and their candidates accountable for this persistent issue. They cannot distance themselves from the vote buying that continues to undermine our electoral processes.”
Similarly, representatives of the Civil Society Situation Room and the CDD, Mimidoo Achakpa and Seyi Awojolugbe, shared their findings, highlighting infractions observed during the election.
Presenting the CDD-Election Analysis Centre’s findings, Awojolugbe noted several instances of vote buying.
She added that police officers were seen arguing over money allegedly distributed by a party stalwart at Ward 005, PU 001, St Barnabas Primary School, Ifon.
Ondo Election, a Sham, Says PDP
PDP slammed the Ondo State governorship poll won by APC, describing it as sham.
It, however, said it was still reviewing the outcome of the election.
”Indeed, all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and across the world have just witnessed the worst election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” PDP said.
A statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said, ”The November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State runs short of all expectations and requirements of a free, fair and credible election as it witnessed the height of electoral swindle, deceit and manipulation by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
”This election witnessed widespread election merchandising, monetisation and barefaced vote buying by the APC and its apparatus in government to suppress the genuine aspiration of the people.
”This devious practice by the APC was rampant and pervasive because the APC have utterly impoverished Nigerians and turned poverty into a weapon of mass subjugation which enabled it to manipulate the election and its outcome.”
PDP stated, ”We call the attention of all Nigerians and the international community to this reprehensible practice by the APC as widely witnessed in the November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State and we demand that a serious action be taken to stem such if Nigeria’s democracy must survive.”
Ologunagba, however, said the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP would be having a more detailed review of the election and its outcome and take appropriate action in the defence of the country’s democracy.
Former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, raised the alarm that the acting national chairman of PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, would extinguished life out of the party unless the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 28 to elect a substantive National Chairman from the North Central, as directed by Section 47 (6) of the party’s Constitution (2017 Amendment), was held. Ologbondiyan, who stated this while interfacing with the G12-Renaissance Group of the PDP in Abuja, said the consistent loss of the party in the off-season elections reflected the dismal performance of Damagum.
Expressing concern at the party’s loss in Saturday’s Ondo State governorship election, Ologbondiyan insisted that if a substantive national chairman was not restored for the party, successive off-season elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states might suffer the fate of Kogi, Imo and Ondo states.
He stated, “It is reprehensible that the Acting National Chairman is supervising the dishevelling of the party. Amb. Damagun has the least of interest in working for the success of the party in any election.
“How can the head of the leading opposition party be accused of secretly meeting with the President of the ruling government, and he would have no response to provide?”
Huriwa: Procured, Stolen Electoral Victories Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy
Pro-democracy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeia (HURIWA), condemned rigging and buying of elections, as experienced in the Edo and Ondo states’ governorship polls.
HURIWA described as unfortunate the widespread reported bribery of police operatives in the Ondo State governorship poll.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, called on Nigerians to deliberately become true lovers and promoters of democracy by resisting the temptation to sell their conscience for a pot of porridge during elections in Nigeria.
It said any electoral victory procured and manipulated to favour the so-called winners, delegitimised those state governments and inevitably reduced their people to mere political slaves whose votes were procured with peanuts.
According to the statement, “What happens after politicians buy their ways into the offices of governors, is that the people of those states are no longer in the overall development calculations of those political office holders since it would be assumed that even when only a fraction of the population of the state actually voted and even then, amongst those who voted, those who mortgaged their consciences and picked up bribes for them to cast their votes would be less than half of those who voted.
“The danger is that those politicians who bought their ways into offices would concentrate on recouping and recovering every investment that went into their electoral robberies and then would also want to make multiple profits from their illicit political investment.”
