Last Saturday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) finally declared the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, winner of the Ifo 1 state constituency election. The Returning Officer for Ifo state constituency 1, Prof. Richard Shobayo, while declaring Oluomo as the winner, said, the speaker polled 7,546 votes to defeat his arch rival, Yusuf Ogundele of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who garnered 6,596 votes.
Oluomo had to wait till last Saturday to know his fate after the election for Ifo state constituency 1, held on March 18, 2023 was declared inconclusive due to over voting. A supplementary election was held in polling unit 4, ward 1, Ifo constituency 1 on Saturday and was won by the PDP, whose candidate is the son of the Ogun State chairman of the party, Sikirulai Ogundele. Perhaps this explains the anxiety that trailed the declaration of the election as inconclusive as well as the narrowness of the lead last Saturday.
The PDP during the supplementary poll polled 185 votes while APC garnered 167 votes. Reacting, Oluomo attributed his victory in the poll to God and the good people of Ifo saying that it was a well fought battle. The Speaker, while reflecting on his victory at a plenary during the week, concluded through a re-run, was full of appreciation to God, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, his constituents and fellow lawmakers for standing by him throughout out the process that led to his emergence as the first lawmaker to be re-elected for the fourth time in Ogun State House of Assembly.
Oluomo, who was full of thanks to the electorate in his constituency, noted that in all the elective posts conducted in the last election, it was only his election that witnessed a re-run, saying he remained grateful to all that stood by him till the process was concluded. The Speaker assured the electorate of more dividends of democracy as the victory is a call to do more. He also urged other contenders to lay behind their differences and collaborate in developing the constituency.
Meawhile, the State of Assembly has described the State Public Service as a vital organ, with laudable contributions critical to the success of the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration in the State. Therefore, public servants across all cadres have been charged to redouble their efforts in rendering quality service , ensure strict adherence to time-tested values, traditions of honesty, hard work and service excellence to enable the present administration consolidate on its strides on its second term.
The Vice Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Establishment, Training and Public Service Matters, Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, gave this charge while taking on the Head of Service, Mr. Kolawole Fagbohun during the ongoing 2023 budget performance assessment of MDAs held at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan,
Abeokuta.
Elemide, who described the new Head of Service as a thorough bred professional, commended the commitment and contributions of the entire State work force to the laudable achievements recorded since the inception of the Prince Dapo Abiodun led-administration, adding that their ingenuity remained topnotch in spite the economic crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic at the inception of the administration.
Also appearing before the State lawmakers for the budget assessment, the General Manager, State Housing Corporation, ESV. ‘Wale Ojo said that the Corporation had put in place a BOFT Garden in Abeokuta, where it had developed 200 units of Bungalow in addition to 12 Units of Duplexes at HID Awolowo Estate in Abeokuta, while another 100 Units of detached duplexes were built at Kemta in Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.