The incumbent governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has been proclaimed the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in the state, following the initial controversy that characterized the first round of the exercise.Around 12:43 this morning in Akure, the state capital, Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo—who also served as the chairman of the seven-member committee appointed by the party’s national leadership to oversee the process of selecting a standard bearer for the November 16 election in Ondo—announced the election’s winner.
The news was made just hours after Ododo issued an order for a rerun election in each of the 13 Wards of Okitipupa Local Government, with a total of 9,515 validated registered voters.
This was in response to verified reports that the exercise was not successful in the local government because of delayed material and personnel arrivals brought on by logistical issues.Ododo claims that Aiyedatiwa defeated 15 other candidates in the race with 48,569 votes.Additionally, the results indicated that Aiyedatiwa had won in 16 of the state’s 18 council areas, whereas Oke had only won in the local government of Ilaje and finished third overall with 14,915 votes cast.
Mayowa Akinfolarin, a former member of the House of Representatives, received 15,343 votes overall, while Senator Jimoh Ibrahim received 9,456. Wale Akinterinwa, a former commissioner of finance, received 1,952 votes.Ododo thanked everyone who cast a ballot while urging the candidates to put aside their differences and support the same candidate.
“Your commitment to serving the people under the platform of our great party and your dedication to the service of Ondo State are truly commendable.
“We appreciate your bravery and tenacity in participating in this significant process. As members of our magnificent party, let us never forget that the actual work is yet ahead of us all.
We have to heed the advice of our president and leader, Bola Tinubu, who has insisted that running for office is an attempt to serve like brothers and sisters from the same family, even though they are leaving the same room.
Like such, even after the election results have been declared, the candidates must still live in the same home.
“Therefore, regardless of the election’s result, we don’t need to leave the party because we are all members of the same family. We have to put aside our differences and support our candidate together,” he uttered.
As for the announcement of the results, it was met with controversy and complaints from certain candidates who demanded that Usman Ododo be replaced as committee chairman and that the exercise be canceled due to purported irregularities.
Aiyedatiwa ran in a direct primary election for governor alongside fifteen other candidates.
Among the candidates were Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Olusola Oke (SAN), former House of Representatives member Mayowa Akinfolarin, former Commissioner for Finance Wale Akinterinwa, former National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Isaac Kekemeke, and former Commissioner Gbenga Edema, who represented the State on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) governing board.
A current member of the House of Representatives, Gen. Ohunyeye Olamide Felix, Jimi Odimayo, Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, Morayo Lebi, Diran Iyantan, Prof. Francis Faduyile, and Ifeoluwa Oyedele were among the others.Mrs. Funke Omogoroye Judith and Funmilayo Adekojo were the two female candidates.On December 27, 2023, Aiyedatiwa took the oath of office as governor of Ondo State, succeeding his principal and previous governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, who passed away in Germany after an extended illness.