- Clinched Victory In Landslide, Dedicates Victory To Akeredolu
- Tinubu, APC, Others Congratulate Him
- PDP Kicks, Describes Election As A ‘Sham’
- Go To Court, Tinubu Tells Aggrieved Parties
- Yiaga Calls For Prosecution Of Arrested Electoral Offenders
Triumphant Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ondo state governor-elect has vowed to serve the people of the state better following his landslide victory in the guber polls after months of intense campaigns and political intrigues.
The Returning Officer for the election Olayemi Akinwumi, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the election on Sunday, extending the governor’s stay at the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure.
Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor of the Sunshine State polled 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival and also another former deputy governor of the state Ajayi Agboola who contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag who scored 117,845 votes, more than twice lower than the APC candidate.
In his victory speech, Aiyedatiwa disclosed that he would run a participatory government and prioritise the welfare of the people.
“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,” he said.
“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 re-dedicate ourselves to the service of our dear state. I, therefore, want to extend a hand of fellowship to the opposition parties and 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.”
Aiyedatiwa said he would not fail on all his promises, noting that the people of Ondo trust him.
“They believe that whatever we say is what we will do. We will not tell them what we cannot do. We will do all that we have promised within the limited resources available to us,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa, while also speaking in an interview on Channels Television after his victory, disclosed that Akeredolu wanted him as his successor.
“How I wish he was present in that banquet hall when I was declared in the company of other brother governors. That would have been really good, but God knows better,” he said.
“It is so sad and painful that he didn’t live to see the manifestation of what he himself spoke about. I do refer to him sometimes as the man who saw tomorrow.
“He knew that I was going to succeed him as governor. He knew because he wanted me to and was ready to give me the full backing.”
Meanwhile, congratulatory messages have continued to pour in for Aiyedatiwa from different quarters.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC and several state governors have extended their congratulations to him.
Tinubu congratulated Aiyedatiwa on his victory in the polls while also commending the peaceful and orderly conduct of the election, praising the maturity displayed by all political actors throughout the process.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, President Tinubu lauded the 17 political parties and their candidates for their sense of purpose during the campaigns and the election, attributing the success of the exercise to the civility demonstrated by the people of Ondo State.
He encouraged all political stakeholders to ensure that this spirit of orderliness continues in post-election activities.
President Tinubu described the election as a “litmus test” for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), commending the electoral body for its early preparation, efficient deployment of staff and materials, and the swift handling of the process.
He specifically praised INEC for successfully uploading over 98% of results on election day, which he said reinforced public confidence in the institution.
He also extended his appreciation to security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force, National Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Youth Service Corps, and the military, for their professionalism in maintaining peace and order during the elections.
For candidates dissatisfied with the election outcome, the President urged them to utilize the judicial system to seek redress, emphasizing the importance of adhering to democratic principles.
Similarly, the APC described the victory as a testament that Aiyedatiwa’s policies were in alignment with the people’s wishes.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) heartily congratulates the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on his re-election,” APC spokesman Felix Morka said in a Sunday statement.
“Your Excellency’s resounding victory in the just-concluded Ondo state gubernatorial election is a clear attestation that your administration’s policies and programmes, and campaign message of hope and consolidation have resonated deeply with the electorate.
“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.”
In the same vein, Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council for Ondo State Governorship Election and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, congratulated Aiyedatiwa for his victory in Saturday’s gubernatorial election.
Governor Sanwo-Olu in a congratulatory message he personally signed and issued in Akure on Sunday, commended the people of Ondo State for their unflinching support and continued belief in the ruling party, saying that the work of the campaign council headed by him was made a lot easier by the good job the immediate past governor, the late Arakurin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had done, which had been built on by his successor, Mr. Aiyedatiwa, for the people of the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also expressed his appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the right leadership and charting the right direction to follow for Nigeria’s socio economic transformation.
“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 in 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,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
On the collective responsibility and contributions of APC members to the party’s victory, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the results of the governorship election showed that all members of the Campaign Council and other subcommittees worked assiduously to achieve success.
“As the Chairman of the National Campaign Council of our great party, APC, for the Ondo Governorship election, it is humbling for me to see that the task given to us by our party, under the able leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, to ensure that we came out victorious was executed to the letter, and the results have shown that all members of the Campaign Council and other subcommittees worked assiduously to achieve success.
“But I must state at this juncture that our work was made a lot easier by the good job that His Excellency, the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had done, which has been built on by his successor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for the people of Ondo State. As the saying goes, you can’t build something on nothing! We only came here to build layers on the structure provided by Governor Aiyedatiwa and his team.
“It should be noted, however, that the winning streak of the APC in past months at various elections is a manifestation of the great strides that our leader, the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is making in his Renewed Hope Agenda of reshaping our economy and putting the country’s socio-political system in the right direction. Our people can see this, and the massive support will further boost the party’s energy to continue its economic recovery efforts.
“As the South West Zonal Coordinator, I want to assure you that the All Progressives Congress will not break the party’s winning streak in the South West of Nigeria. After all, our zone is the home of the progressive elements in Nigeria’s political landscape. We will win more states to our fold in due course,” the governor said.
Not to be left out, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Sunday, described Aiyedatiwa’s resounding victory as an affirmation of the people’s will and endorsement of his pro-people agenda.
In his congratulatory message, Prince Abiodun emphasized that Aiyedatiwa’s victory was not only well-deserved but also a testament to the outstanding performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
He said: “This victory reflects the unwavering support of the people for our party’s vision and dedication.”
The governor highlighted the APC’s focus on an issue-based campaign, which resonated deeply with the electorate.
Prince Abiodun also commended the collective efforts of all individuals and groups who contributed to the electoral success, saying that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, the NSCDC, among others, did a fantastic job in ensuring a free, fair and credible exercise.
He also acknowledged the leadership of the APC at both the national and state levels for their relentless commitment and perseverance, even as he remarked that the ruling party has been waxing stronger under the leadership of the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
Prince Abiodun also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his exemplary democratic principles, noting, “Since taking office, President Tinubu has championed a level playing field in our electoral processes, ensuring a fair and transparent environment for all candidates.
“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.”
However, the Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the conduct of the polls by INEC calling it ‘a sham’.
The opposition party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Sunday, said it is reviewing the outcome of the poll.
The opposition party in its statement, described the election as the worst ever to be conducted by INEC.
“The Peoples Democratic Party and 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).
“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),” the statement read in part.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: INEC Declares Aiyedatiwa Winner Of Ondo Governorship Election
PDP also alleged widespread vote buying by the APC which it said was rampant because the ruling party impoverished Nigerians.
“This election witnessed widespread election merchandising, monetization 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.
READ ALSO: Ondo Election: DSS Arrests Suspected Vote Buyer With Bags Of Cash
“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.
“In the meantime, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP will be having a more detailed review of the election and its outcome and take appropriate action in the defence of our Democracy.”
In a related development, the election observer group, Yiaga Africa has called for the prosecution of electoral offenders arrested during polls in accordance with the law.
This is part of the eight points included in the recommendations put forward by the organisation in its reaction to the outcome of the election.
READ ALSO: Ondo Governor Aiyedatiwa Casts Vote Amid Large Turnout
Addressing a media conference in Akure, the state capital, the chairman of Yiaga’s 2024 Ondo election mission, Ezenwa Nwagwu, commended the people of the state for upholding peace during the voting, counting, collation of election results across the state.
He, however, condemned the incidents of vote buying in the election, noting that it is a major threat to the credibility of the electoral process.
