• INEC posts over 98% of election results on IREV
• APC candidate ahead in most LGAs
With 98% of the results of yesterday’s governorship election in Ondo State posted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its Result Viewing (IREV) portal last night, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa appeared to be coasting home to victory.
Figures independently tallied from the IREV portal put Aiyedatiwa, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, in an unassailable lead.
Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed far behind in the second position.
Apparently sensing his imminent defeat, Ajayi, a former deputy governor of the state, had expressed displeasure at the conduct of the election in his home town of Kiribo in Ese-Odo Local Government Area, soon after voting yesterday.
He said it took more than 10 minutes for the INEC BVAS to capture him.
He however went on to win his booth – Apoi Ward11, Unit 004, Kiribo with 194 votes against three for Ayedatiwa.
The camp of the APC went into victory mode as soon as the results began streaming in. By 5.15pm, the National Secretary of the party, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, was on his X handle @Dr.SRJ_ with a message to his followers: “Our mood in Akure now!!! Alhamdulilah.”Attached to the text was his picture, smiling. The election was generally peaceful across the state.
Voting materials arrived many polling units before 8am. INEC said on X that “of the 3,933 Polling Units (PUs) across the 203 Wards in the 18 local government areas (LGAs) of Ondo State, 3,823 (97 per cent) opened by 8.30am.
“The remaining 110 PUs opened between 8.31am and 10am.”
Security was tight, but voters’ turnout appeared low despite efforts by some communities in mobilising natives to come home and vote. The Ilaje in particular reached out to their sons and daughters to come home and vote for Aiyedatiwa.
As early as 6am, the jetty at Ugbonla was jam packed by voters who heeded the come-home-and-vote call.
There are no access roads to many Ilaje communities including Obenla, hometown of Aiyedatiwa.
A business owner in the area said the Ilaje were united in ensuring victory for the governor.
“We have never had it like this before. People are coming from Delta, Edo, Lagos and other parts of the world to come and vote for our son,” he said.
A retired Army Captain, Harry Akinfoyewa, said they were happy to vote their son as governor.
“It is because of events of today that this jetty is filled. It is because our son is contesting today.
“On an ordinary day, you would not see this kind of crowd here. I am going to vote in the riverine area because of this election.”
At Obenla Ward 4, polling units 5 and 6, traditional ruler of the town, Oba Kolawole Andrew, Olubaki 1, Olubo of Obenla, led his subjects to the polling units as early as 8:10am.
Oba Kolawole, who voted at about 9am arrived the polling unit as early as 8am. He said he did not expect INEC officials to arrive the polling units as at the time they did.
The Obenla monarch said all communities in Ilaje wanted Aiyedatiwa to emerge victorious.
He said: “INEC officials arrived early. I didn’t expect them when they arrived with their materials.
“This election is good in terms of preparation by INEC. Moreover the whole area is calm. The electoral officials came on time.
“Aiyedatiwa and I vote in the same polling unit. We, as leaders, want him to win.
“We want Aiyedatiwa to develop all communities in Ugboland. Our immediate need is embankment, especially sea incursion. We want it solved.”
Two former governorship aspirants of the APC, Chief Olusola Oke and Dr. Soji Ehinlanwo, said that the Ijaws and Apoi were in support of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s continued stay in office.
Chief Oke, who spoke shortly while monitoring the election in Ilaje Local Government, said the result of the election would be beautiful.
Oke said the overwhelming support for Aiyedatiwa was because the Ilaje have been yearning for leadership since 1976.
He said there was no resistance or credible opposition in the state.
“You can understand the joy of the people. The direction of the election is well known.
“It is a new broom that sweeps clean.”
Ehinlanwo, on his part, said it was not surprising for the unprecedented huge turnout of voters in Ilaje.
“Today is an important day. It is a day to make the right choice for the greater Ilaje and greater Ondo State, for our state to be prosperous. Let us make the right choice.”
Business mogul, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC- Ondo South) described the conduct of the election as free, fair and credible.
Ibrahim told reporters after voting at Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area, that the APC would “definitely win this election.”
He said: “I voted for my party as a loyal member under President Bola Tinubu and our respected national party chairman, Ganduje, and I can say that definitely, APC will win this election.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who voted at Unit 5, urged all candidates to accept the outcome of the election.
He said he would accept the results if the election was conducted in a free and fair manner.
He said:” I am at an advantage to win because of the work I have done in the last 10 months. I was the only candidate that covered the entire state.
“I felt the people, I listened to them and the people were excited at my appearance. I believe they will translate the love to vote today.”
He eventually won his polling booth with 128 votes, leaving three for PDP’s Ajayi.
Results of the election posted by INEC yesterday showed that the APC candidate performed well across the 18 local government areas of the state with the exception of Idanre where the PDP did well.
Ajayi’s running mate, Festus Akingbaso, is from Idanre
His constituents gave the PDP 187 votes in his Polling Unit 8, Ward 2, AladeOkun while APC got 46.
Aiyedatiwa secures landslide victory in Owo LG
The collation officer for Owo LG, Prof. Abdulmojeed Ijaiya, last night announced that Aiyedatiwa polled a total of 31,914 votes in the LGA while Ajayi got 4,740.
Below are the details:
Total registered voters – 143,751
Accredited – 38,340
A – 08
AA – 03
AAC – 16
ADC – 353
ADP – 140
APC – 31,914
APGA – 36
APM – 12
APP – 05
LP – 42
NNPP – 06
NRM – 03
PDP – 4,740
PRP – 05
SDP – 22
YP – 08
YPP – 06
ZLP – 15
Total valid votes – 37,334
Rejected – 983
Total votes cast – 38,317
Aiyedatiwa’s running mate, Olayide Adelami, also did well in his polling unit 16, Igboroko 2, Ward 3, Owo with 209 votes for the APC and 11 for PDP.
Votes for APC in Akoko area were particularly massive.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is from there.
Total votes in the 18 units making up the minister’s Oke Agbe Ward 3 in the Akoko North West LG alone, APC amassed 2711 or 84.3% of the votes while PDP got 482 or 14.9%.
Below is the breakdown of the results in the ward.
*UNIT 001*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —235 VOTERS*
APC —-198
PDP—–31
ADC —2
REJECTED BALLOTS —-4
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–167 VOTES.
*UNIT 002*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —241*
APC —- 201
PDP—–35
ADC—–2
ADP—–2
APGA—1
REJECTED BALLOTS —-1
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–166 VOTES.
*UNIT 003*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —195 VOTERS*
APC —-157
PDP—–36
ADP—–1
ADC—–1
REJECTED BALLOTS—-O
SPOILED ——-O
VOTE MARGIN—–121 VOTES.
*UNIT 004*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —149 VOTERS*
APC —-114
PDP—–30
ADC—–2
ADP—–1
APGA—2
REJECTED BALLOTS —-1
SPOILED ——-1
VOTE MARGIN—–84 VOTES.
*UNIT 005*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —115*
APC —-85
PDP—–28
LP—–1
REJECTED BALLOTS —-1
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–57 VOTES.
*UNIT 006*
This is the polling unit where Chief E.O Akeju cast his votes.
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS — 172 VOTERS*
APC —-153
PDP—–18
OTHER PARTIES —-0
REJECTED BALLOTS—-0
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–135 VOTES.
*UNIT 007*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —- 214*
APC —183
PDP—–27
AAC—–1
REJECTED BALLOTS —-3
SPOILED ——-2
VOTE MARGIN—–156 VOTES.
*UNIT 008*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —198 VOTERS*
APC —-166
PDP—–30
OTHER PARTIES –0
REJECTED BALLOTS —-2
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–136 VOTES.
*UNIT 009*
(Court Palace)
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —111*
APC —-152
PDP—–18
OTHER PARTIES —0
REJECTED BALLOTS —-0
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–134 VOTES.
*UNIT 10*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —144*
APC —-113
PDP—–31
OTHER PARTIES –0
REJECTED BALLOTS —-0
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–82 VOTES.
*UNIT 11*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —162 VOTERS*
APC —-133
PDP—–28
ADP—-1
REJECTED BALLOTS —-1
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–105 VOTES.
*UNIT 12*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —106 VOTERS*
APC —-91
PDP—–15
OTHER PARTIES —0
REJECTED BALLOTS—-0
SPOILED ——-2
VOTE MARGIN—–76 VOTES.
*UNIT 13*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —-227 VOTERS*
APC —-200
PDP—–27
OTHER PARTIES —0
REJECTED BALLOTS —-0
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–173 VOTES.
*UNIT 14*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —-168 VOTERS*
APC —-153
PDP—–13
ADC—–1
REJECTED BALLOTS —-1
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—– 140 VOTES.
*UNIT 15*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —133 VOTERS*
APC —-106
PDP—–27
OTHER PARTIES —0
REJECTED BALLOTS —-0
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–79 VOTES.
*UNIT 16*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —202 VOTERS*
APC —-165
PDP—–34
ADC—–3
REJECTED BALLOTS —-0
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–131 VOTES.
*UNIT 17*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —269 VOTERS*
APC —-232
PDP—–32
ADC—-1
ADP—–1
NVN—-1
REJECTED BALLOTS—-2
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–200 VOTES.
*UNIT 18*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS —132 VOTERS*
APC —-109
PDP—–22
OTHER PARTIES —0
REJECTED BALLOTS—-1
SPOILED ——-0
VOTE MARGIN—–87 VOTES.
*SUMMARY REPORT*
*TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS ACROSS THE 18 UNITS IN WARD 3 OKEAGBE AKOKO NORTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT (3,173 VOTERS)*
APC—– *2,711 Votes*
PDP—– *482 Votes*
LP—– *1 Vote*
ADC—- *10 Votes*
ADP—- *7 Votes*
AAC—- *1 Vote*
NVN—- *1 Vote*
APGA– *3 Votes*
REJECTED BALLOTS—- *16 Votes*
SPOILED ——- *5 Votes*
Agboola to INEC: ‘We can’t trust you, system has been compromised’
Ajayi dismissed INEC’s handling of the election in his area.
His words: “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 Commission (REC).
“And we have said it several times that we don’t trust Barr. Oluwatoyin Babalola (REC); that this woman cannot be fair.
“The system is compromised and we have series of calls made by everybody. People are complaining of vote buying, 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.”
Yiaga alleges vote buying
One of the observer missions, Yiaga Africa, alleged that the election was marred by vote buying.
Yiaga Africa said reports from its monitors showed vote buying in several polling units across the state.
Chairman of the 2024 Ondo Election Mission, Ezenwa Nwagwu, said vote buying was becoming a permanent feature of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Nwagwu, who commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for apprehending an alleged vote buyer in St. Stephen Polling Unit, said political parties and candidates should be held accountable for the negative trends observed in the country’s elections.
He insisted that political parties could not distance themselves from the persistent issue of vote buying that continued to mar the electoral processes.
Why Ondo election was largely successful – Observer group
The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), an election monitoring group, said adequate preparation by INEC was a factor in the successful conduct of the governorship election in Ondo State.
The Board Chairperson of KDI, Dr. Abiola Afolabi, stated this after the assessment of the election.
“Our field observers reported significant early arrival of election materials at the polling units, indicating the well-preparedness of INEC on logistical movement.
“We commend the relative professionalism and adequacy of policing in the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
“We noted that the election process has been largely peaceful, with no major incidents leading to a breakdown of law and order in the early hours,” he said.
Afolabi, however, acknowledged that while poll workers arrived in many polling units early, there were isolated cases of late commencement of polls at certain locations.
“Of the 275 reports received from the field, 33.09 per cent indicated late commencement
“Observations indicate that election officials arrived at polling stations between 6:30am. and 8:00 am,, while voting commenced in those locations of the 33 per cent reported, between 8:45am and 10:00a.m.” he said.
Afolabi added that KDI observed that the enforcement of restriction of movement and roadblocks by security personnel was handled professionally.
He said the security personnel seamlessly allowed movement of essential workers in most of the local government areas.
Afolabi said that Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned very well in the election adding that the pockets of incidence reported were quickly resolved making voting to hold peacefully.
According to him, the KDI’s Election Day Data Room received 20 reports of incidents of violence among which only that in Polling Unit 3, Ward 5 in ldanre Local Government led to disruption of the polling units.
The next step in the electoral process is the collation of the results from the wards at the local government secretariats after which the LG results will be taken to the state capital Akure for final collation and formal announcement of the winner.
