• It is victory for all—Akeredolu
  • Beginning of 2019 battle– Afenifere

 

From: Taiwo Amodu, Chinelo Obogo, Wole Balogun, and  Bamigbola Gbolagunte, ( Akure)

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.
INEC Chief Returning Officer, Professor Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali who announced the results declared that Akeredolu polled the highest number of votes in the election and defeated the candidates of 27 other political parties including, Olusola Oke and Eyitayo
Jegede (SAN) of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) respectively.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin said “having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes in the governorship election, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu is hereby declared winner and returned elected.”
According to the Returning Officer, Akeredolu polled a total vote of 244,842, while his closest rival, Jegede had 150,380 and Oke came a distant third with 126,889.
Giving a breakdown of the figures, Professor Ambali gave number of total registered voters as, 1, 647, 973 and accredited voters as 584, 997. According to him, total votes cast was 580, 887 while total valid votes was 551, 272. He gave total rejected votes as 29, 615.
The Returning Officer adjudged the election as free and fair. The results released by INEC showed that the PDP won in 14 Local Government Areas, while the AD won in two Local Government Areas and PDP also in two Local Government Areas.
The AD candidate won in Ilaje and Okitipupa council areas, while his PDP counterpart also won in Ondo East and Ondo West council areas of Ondo central and south senatorial districts, respectively.

However, the APC victory however cut across the three senatorial district having won in Akure North, Akure South, Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Ifedore, Ose, Akoko South West, Akoko South East, Akoko North East, Akoko North West, Owo, Idanre, Irele, Ese-Odo and Odigbo Local Government Areas.
Agents of all the governorship candidates who contested the election signed the results.
Commenting on the poll Mr. Ayo Fadaka who was the agent of the PDP candidate claimed INEC was too hasty in conducting the election, as he noted that the election was conducted in less than 48 hours after Jegede was declared the PDP candidate.
Fadaka further alleged that “some individuals were used to truncate the future of the people of Ondo State by teaming up to work against the common interest of the people of the state. They came to Ondo to work against us and eventually gave our government to the APC.”
He said both Jegede and the party would consult widely and decide on the next step to take, adding that “as I talk now, we have not decided on what to do as a political party, but as time goes on, we shall take appropriate action.”
He accused INEC of collaborating with ‘’ the judiciary to deprive the good people of Ondo State good government which the Olusegun Mimiko administration has ensured in the last eight years. Knowing full well that the electoral body has up to January, next year to organize the election, INEC still went ahead to conduct election despite
unfavourable conditions.”
But Akededolu’s agent, Dr Benson Enikuomehin said the election that produced his candidate was free and fair, saying that the PDP and its candidate were only looking for excuses to cover up for their failure.
He said “The result of the election showed that people are against Mimiko and his government. From the result, we could see that in Akure where the PDP candidate comes from, the party lost. Even in Mimiko’s hometown, the PDP won with slight margin. This is to tell you that the people of Ondo State are tired of Mimiko and his hegemony. Speaking from his home town of Owo, the governor-elect Rotimi Akeredolu
described his victory as an act of God. Akeredolu who promised welfare and employment for Ondo people, pleaded for the cooperation of all irrespective of political platform and
differences. He said:”This is victory of God through the people. It is not for me or the APC alone, it is a victory for the people of Ondo State irrespective of which side of the divide you stood during the election. For me it is a challenge to perform. It is a call to rescue our state and reverse its fortunes.
“I thank the people of my dear state for their steadfastness . I have heard their messages during the campaign to all the nooks and crannies of the state. Today, you have spoken with one voice. You have walked your talk. You have voted for me as your Governor for the next four years.
‘’Today, Change has come. I hereby make a solemn pledge that this collective mandate shall address all issues with keen determination.
The welfare of our people alone shall be the directive policy of the  government.’’
He further thanked the electorate for their resilience and patience.
“Today’s victory is a confirmation of the willingness and readiness of the people of Ondo State to change and seek a better life. I thank you for your faith and confidence in me. I thank all those, whose uncommon sacrifices, contributed in no small measure to the success of the exercise. A special show of gratitude must be extended to our
security agents for their patriotic duty.
‘’I appeal to everyone to embrace peace. The safety of lives and property of the people should be of paramount importance to all.’’
He restated his resolve to accommodate and serve all indigenes, irrespective of their individual political leanings.
“I shall in few months be saddled with the task of providing responsible leadership , a leadership that would take our people from poverty and stagnation to productivity and prosperity , from pains and lamentation to joy and laughter . It is the sole reason you have voted for me and by the grace of God, I will not fail you. No winner or loser, we are all winners, victory is God-given We are going back to the basics, farming.”
Also reacting to the outcome of the poll, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the emergence of Akeredolu was an act of God, even as it described the election that produced him as a credible and transparent one.
The Party in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Prince Abayomi Adesanya commended the INEC for ensuring a credible election in all parts of the state, adding that the simultaneous accreditation and voting system adopted by INEC contributed largely to the success of the exercise.

The party assured the people of the state that the incoming APC led government under Akeredolu would transform the state from its present position to an enviable height.
In his reaction, National Publicity Secretary of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin told Daily Sun on phone that the outcome of the weekend election was the begging of battle between the contending forces in the south-west .
He said: ‘’ What has played out is the beginning of battle or 2019, between the contending forces in APC jostling for political space and supremacy.
‘’It is left to be seen, whether the south-west group will capitulate, or review their battle plans.’’ Meanwhile, there was jubilation in many parts of Akure, the state capital yesterday as members of the APC trooped out to celebrate thevictory of Akeredolu.
The APC members who armed themselves with brooms danced round major streets in the town, chanting pro- Akeredolu songs. A good number of them also converged on the party secretariat along Oba Adesida road and the Akeredolu campaign office at Oyemekun road, where they sang and danced in celebration of the victory of the
party in the election.
A leader of the party, Mr Steve Otaloro while speaking said “the people of the state are all happy with the victory of Akeredolu, but we are the ones showing it because of our investment in the project and our commitment to the party.”
He said “members of the party in all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state are already in celebration mood and we are all celebrating the victory of Akeredolu who we are sure will bring about positive developments to our state.”