President Tinubu Urges Dissatisfied Candidates to Seek Legal Redress Over Ondo Governorship Election
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on political parties and candidates dissatisfied with the outcome of the recently concluded Ondo State governorship election to seek redress through the courts.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu congratulates Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The President urges candidates dissatisfied with the outcome of the election to utilize the judicial system to address areas of contention,” Onanuga stated.
Tinubu commended Aiyedatiwa and other candidates for their maturity and sense of purpose during the campaigns and the election, attributing the smooth conduct of the polls to their civility. He also praised INEC, the police, and other security agencies for their efforts in ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
“The Ondo State election served as a litmus test for INEC's preparedness and capacity. The electoral body justified public confidence through early preparations, timely deployment of personnel and materials, and the efficient handling of the electoral process,” the President remarked.
Tinubu highlighted INEC’s achievement of uploading over 98% of the results on election day, calling it a commendable milestone.
At approximately 2:30 PM on Sunday, the State Returning Officer, Professor Olayemi Durotimi Akinwunmi of the Federal University Lokoja, declared Aiyedatiwa the winner. He secured 366,781 votes, defeating his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes.
The APC dominated the election, winning all 18 local government areas, including Ifedore, Ondo East, Ileoluji Oke-Igbo, Idanre, Irele, Akoko South West, Owo, Ondo West, Akoko South East, Akoko North West, Ose, Akoko North East, Akure South, Akure North, Okitipupa, Odigbo, Ilaje, and Ese Odo.
However, controversy arose during the collation process as the PDP’s agent for Idanre Local Government Area raised allegations of widespread irregularities, including vote buying and ballot box snatching. The agent also claimed that voting did not take place in some parts of the local government and formally requested the nullification of results from Idanre.
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