The Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has been declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 16, 2024 governorship election in the state.
The final results of the election were announced by the Kogi state governor and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship Election Committee, Usman Ododo, who declared Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the election.
Ododo said Aiyedatiwa polled 48,569 votes to defeat 15 other aspirants from 17 of the 18 local government areas, as the election was not held in Ifedore Local government area of the state.
The Returning Officer for Ifedore local government, Oliver Okpala, explained that there was a shooting in the area, and residents were scared to come out.
According to him, all the wards visited by his team were empty and the election could not take place while the incident was reported at the police station.
However, Mayowa Akinfolarin came second polling a total of 15,343 votes in the election.
Speaking before the party’s electoral officers reeled out the results from the 18 council areas, Ododo of Kogi urged the aspirants to continue to work together for the development of the party and to win the state.
He said, “Let’s remember that the real election lies with all of us as members of this great party, the All Progressives Congress.
“We must always reflect on the words of our father and leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has maintained that a political contest is a quest to serve my brothers and sisters from the same family but living in the same room and must therefore live in the same house after the election has been won and lost.
ALSO READ: ‘Show of shame’, Akinterinwa rejects Ondo APC primary election
“In our own room today, we are all in the same room as a family, and as such, we do not need to abandon the party, irrespective of today’s outcome. We must set aside our differences and unite behind our candidate.
“In our unity, we shall continue to find strength, and our victory lies in our solidarity as party men and women.”
The Chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, commended the Committee and assured that the party will do all within its reach to remain a party to beat in any election.
He called on all the aspirants to come together to make the party great again, saying there is a greater strength in the spirit of togetherness.
In his acceptance speech, Aiyedatiwa after the declaration and affirmation as the candidate of the party by the Committee, said the time to win together as a party has come after the heavy politics within the party to pick a standard-bearer for the party.
According to him, what matters most at this particular period is the greatness of the party, appealing to all the aspirants and other stakeholders to join hands with him to build a better future.
He commended all the aspirants who participated in the primary exercise, saying their participation has created so much awareness within and outside our party, saying, “all of these have enriched our democracy and strengthened our party in the state”
Aiyedatiwa said, “The internally orchestrated heavy politics within our party, APC, in search of our flag-bearer in the forthcoming gubernatorial election has come to a conclusion today with the emergence of a candidate as declared by the Governorship Primary Election Committee under the chairmanship of His Excellency, Governor Usman Ododo, the Governor of Kogi State.
“Let me at this time acknowledge and thank all the aspirants who threw their hats into the ring in the family contest to be the flag-bearer: Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin, Chief Olusola Oke, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, Hon. Isaac D. Kekemeke, Hon. Gbenga Edema, Mr. Ohunyeye Olamide Felix, Hon. Olujimi Odimayo, Mr. Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Morayo Lebi Esq, Prince Diran Iyantan, Prof. Francis Faduyile, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Mrs. Funmilayo Waheed Adekojo and Engr. Funke Omogoroye.
“Your participation has created so much awareness within and outside our party. You mobilized our members and removed apathy. You have also brought in numerous new members into the party”
Continuing, he stated that “Democracy sometimes, after a contest like this, comes with discordant tunes. But this is not the time to hold grudges against anyone but for all of us to come together to work for the success of our great party so as to remain in power.
“We will all gain in this party, though at different times, if we keep faith. I salute your courage and keen interest to lead the State towards development. It is your right and you are qualified and worthy members of our party.Â
“I want to specially thank the President and Leader of our party, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his leadership. I thank the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, the National Chairman of our party, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the Progressive Governors, National and State Working Committees of our party and all stakeholders in the state for their forthrightness in the processes leading to my emergence as the flag-bearer for our party in the Ondo 2024 governorship election.
“I thank all our traditional rulers, institutional heads, civil servants and all the stakeholders who have chosen me as their preferred candidate. I also thank all the party leaders, including the APC Aborigines, members of the campaign team and all others who toured the entire 18 local government areas together with me to engage with our party members. I do not take for granted the love shown to me by our members across the State”
“To all our party members, I hereby accept, wholeheartedly, the responsibility conferred on me as the candidate of our party by the votes of our members who turned out in their large numbers on the 20th of April 2024.
“Now, more than ever before, the greatness of Ondo State is what matters the most. I therefore request that we all join hands together in building the future that we all yearn for in Ondo state
“There is infrastructure to be built; better healthcare services to be delivered; fair justice to be served; qualitative education to be ensured; civil servants to be trained and motivated; security of lives and properties to be strengthened; enabling environment to be created for businesses to thrive and attract investors.”
Election results at a glance
- Total number of voters 117, 922
- Number of Accredited voters 95,178
- Total votes cast 95,178
- Valid Votes 95,178
- Invalid Votes Nil
-
 Votes according to candidates
- Jimi Odimayo 490
- Omogoroye Judith 115
- Lucky Aiyedatiwa 48, 569
- Isaacs Kekemeke 1045
- Soji Ehinlanwo 492
- Gbenga Edema 395
- IbrahimJjimoh 9456
- Waheed Adekojo 529
- Mayowa Akinfolarin 15,343
- Wale Akinterinwa 1952
- Oke Olusola 14915
- Felix Ohunyeye 424
- Levi Morayo 290
- Diran Iyantan 348
- Dayo Faduyile 353
- Ife Oyedele 462
and then