By Ehichioya Ezomon
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been declared winner of the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, for the November 16 off-cycle governorship election.
Aiyedatiwa secured the nomination with a total of 48,569 votes. His closest contender, Mr Mayowa Akinfolarin, scored 15,343 votes, while Chief Olusola Oke received 14,865 votes.
The _New Diplomat_ reports that this comes amid protests by aggrieved members of some of the aspirants, over alleged fraudulent conduct of the election.
The protesters stormed the streets, and APC’s secretariat in Akure, capital city of the state, on Sunday, April 21, carrying placards inscribed with messages denouncing the primary.
They demanded the cancellation of the primary, and suspension from the party of Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, the chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee.
However, as first reported by _Vanguard_ , Governor Ododo, declaring the primary results, made no mention of the alleged malpractice and violence during the election, and the protests therefrom by aggrieved APC members.
Evoking the name of President Bola Tinubu, the governor reflected on the competitive nature of the primary, highlighting the rigorous electoral contest, and calling for party unity and members’ backing for the nominee.
Ododo said: “Let’s remember that the real election lies with all of us as members of this great party, the All Progessives Congress.
“We must always reflect on the words of our father and leader, President Bola Tinubu, who has maintained that a political contest is a quest to serve by brothers and sisters from the same family living in (different rooms but in) the same room (house), and must therefore live in the same house after the election has been won and lost.
“In our own rooms today, we are all in the same room (house) as a family, and as such, we have no 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 Diplomat_ reports that re-certified financial members of the APC across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State participated in the primary to pick the candidate for the November election.
The exercise was declared inconclusive by Governor Ododo on Saturday, April 20, due to absence of materials to conduct the poll in the 13 wards of Okitipupa Local Government Area. The election was rescheduled for Sunday, April 21.
Similarly, the Returning officer for lfedore Local Government Area, Mr Oliver Okpala, said violence marred the exercise in the area, hence party members were scared to come out and cast their votes in all wards of the council.
Below are the results of the primary election:
*Results*
*Total number of voters: 117,922
*Total number of accredited voters: 95,178
*Total votes cast: 95,178
*Invalid votes: Nil.
*Total Scores By Aspirants*
*Jimi Odimayo, 490
*Omogoroye Judith, 115
*Aiyedatiwa Lucky, 48,569
*Kekemeke Isaac, 1,045
*Soji Ehinlanwo, 492
*Olugbenga Edema, 395
*Jimoh lbrahim, 9,456
*Adekojo Funmilayo, 529
*Akinfolarin Samuel, 15,343
*Wale Akinterinwa, 1,952
*Olusola Oke, 14,915
*Olamide Ohunyeye, 424
*Morayo Lebi, 290
*Diran lyantan, 348
*Dayo Faduyile, 353
*Ife Oyedele, 462
*Aspirants’ Scores In LGAs*
1:ILAJE LG
Lucky Aiyedatiwa 2,485
Wale Akinterinwa 26
Olusola Oke 2,511
Jimoh Ibrahim 589
2: ILE OLUJI/OKEIGBO
Jimoh Ibrahim 282
Aiyedatiwa 1, 225
3: ONDO WEST LG
Jimoh Ibrahim 2,668
Aiyedatiwa: 10,610
4: ESE-ODO LG
Aiyedatiwa 298
Akinterinwa 0
Oke 147
Jimoh Ibrahim 174
5: OWO LG
Aiyedatiwa 2,123
Akinterinwa 345
Oke 225
Jimoh Ibrahim 192
6: IDANRE LG
Aiyedatiwa 1,579
Akinterinwa 119
Oke 225
Jimoh Ibrahim 120
7: AKOKO NORTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 1,664
Akinterinwa 135
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 505
8: AKOKO NORTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa 5,430
Akinterinwa 198
Oke 2,721
Jimoh Ibrahim 728
9: AKOKO SOUTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 2,533
Akinterinwa 43
Oke 391
Jimoh Ibrahim 67
10: AKOKO SOUTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa 2,747
Akinterinwa 272
Oke 415
Jimoh Ibrahim 466
11: IFEDORE LGA
(No Results. All Aspirants scored zero, according to the Returning Officer, due to an alleged shooting during the election)
12: OSE LG
Aiyedatiwa 1,091
Akinterinwa 39
Oke 800
Jimoh Ibrahim 267
13: IRELE LG
Aiyedatiwa 1,203
Akinterinwa 15
Oke 93
Jimoh Ibrahim 139
14: ODIGBO LG
Aiyedatiwa 2,631
Akinterinwa 114
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 845
15: AKURE NORTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 2,860
Akinterinwa 177
Oke 1,239
Jimoh Ibrahim 1,606
16: AKURE SOUTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 3,265
Akinterinwa 86
Oke 328
Jimoh Ibrahim 294
17: OKITIPUPA LG
Aiyedatiwa 1,622
Akinterinwa 27
Oke 1,571
Jimoh Ibrahim 109
18: ONDO EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 4,803
Akinterinwa 141
Oke 1,171
Jimoh Ibrahim 406.
