Lucky Aiyedatiwa emerged as the winner of the Ondo All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election, concluding a voting process spanning from Saturday.
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State, the Chairman of the election committee, declared Aiyedatiwa the victor in the early hours of Monday. He announced the adoption of the direct mode of primary election across all 203 electoral wards in the state.
Ododo declared the results where Aiyedatiwa secured 48,569 votes. Aiyedatiwa surpassed his closest rival Mayowatoarin, who garnered 15,343 votes, with Olusola Oke securing the third position with 14,865 votes.
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In his acceptance speech, an elated Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to party members for their support. He accepted the responsibility bestowed upon him as the APC flagbearer. He emphasized unity within the party for future success.
Aiyedatiwa urged reconciliation, stating, “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.”
However, the primary election faced challenges as incidents of violence led to the cancellation of results in Ifedore. Several contestants, including Folakemi Omogoroye, denounced the election process. Omogoroye alleged irregularities and the absence of election officials and materials at voting centres.
Omogoroye criticized the process as a “complete rape on democracy” and called for the cancellation of the election, threatening legal action if her demands for a fresh and transparent election were not met.
Discontent among party members manifested in protests in Akure where demonstrators demanded the annulment of the exercise and the removal of Ododo as the committee’s chair.
Furthermore, the protesters voiced grievances “over alleged irregularities and the failure to conduct ward primaries across the 203 wards of the state. They cautioned against imposing an unpopular candidate, fearing it could jeopardize the party’s chances in the governorship election.”
With the primary concluded, Aiyedatiwa now shifts his focus to the main election scheduled for November. His victory comes three months after assuming office as governor succeeding his late predecessor Rotimi Akeredolu, who passed away after battling prostate cancer.
As the APC prepares for the upcoming election, Aiyedatiwa’s win marks a pivotal moment in the party’s journey toward maintaining political dominance in Ondo State.