Lucky Aiyedatiwa has secured the governorship ticket in the Ondo All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections after a rigorous voting process spanning Saturday to early hours of Monday.
Chairman of the election committee, Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State, announced Aiyedatiwa’s triumph in the direct mode primary election conducted across all 203 electoral wards in Ondo state’s 18 LGAs, on Monday
Aiyedatiwa secured a landslide victory in 16 out of 18 local government areas, amassing a total of 48,569 votes, outshining Mayowa Akinfolarin and Olusola Oke, who garnered 15,343 and 14,865 votes respectively. Notably, Aiyedatiwa lost Ilaje LGA to Oke.
While expressing gratitude in his acceptance speech, Aiyedatiwa thanked party members for their overwhelming support and pledged to work tirelessly for the success of the party.
The incidents of violence in Ifedore, on Saturday, led to cancellation of results as allegations of irregularities and absence of election officials marred the process, some candidates demanding a fresh and transparent election.
Folakemi Omogoroye, a female aspirant had decried the process, which according to her, lacked transparency. In same vein, disgruntled party members took to the streets in Akure, protesting and alleging irregularities while calling for the annulment of the exercise and removal of Ododo as the committee’s chair.
The protesters had cited the absence of ward primaries and warned against imposing an unpopular candidate, which they fear would jeopardize the party’s chances in the governorship election.
With the primaries concluded, Aiyedatiwa now sets his sights on the main election slated for November, marking a milestone in his political journey, which began with his assumption of office after his late principal, Rotimi Akeredolu’s demise.
