Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the winner of the Ondo State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The results, announced by Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, the Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja, revealed that Aiyedatiwa secured 366,781 votes. His closest rival, Ajayi Agboola, garnered 117,845 votes, while Dr. Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party trailed with 2,692 votes.
Aiyedatiwa, who was the incumbent governor of Ondo State, initially assumed office following the death of his predecessor, the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. His election victory now solidifies his position as the state’s leader.
In his victory speech, Aiyedatiwa pledged to lead an inclusive government, urging opposition parties to work with him for the state’s progress.
He commended INEC and security agencies for ensuring a smooth electoral process and dedicated his victory to God and his late predecessor.
He said, “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.”