The National Chairperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have expressed their congratulations to Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his victory in the 2024 Ondo State governorship election. Governor Aiyedatiwa, the APC candidate, emerged victorious after polling 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes.
The election, held across 3,933 polling units in Ondo State’s 18 local government areas, saw an impressive turnout, with over 1.7 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected, representing 85.6% of the state’s 2.05 million registered voters.
Abdullahi Ganduje described the victory as “democracy in action” and commended Governor Aiyedatiwa as a “sellable candidate” who would ensure the sustainability of ongoing projects in the state. Similarly, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the APC’s National Campaign Council Chairman for the election, personally signed a congratulatory message, praising the people of Ondo State for their steadfast support for the party.
Sanwo-Olu attributed the victory to the solid foundations laid by the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa’s performance during his 10-month tenure. He also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership in strengthening the APC’s national and regional standing, stating, “This belief and support for our party have been demonstrated a number of times, including the past governorship, local government, and presidential elections.”
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the collective efforts of the APC Campaign Council and other subcommittees, noting that the campaign’s success was due to the dedication of all stakeholders. “The task given to us by our party, under the able leadership of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, to ensure that we came out victorious was executed to the letter,” he said. He further emphasized that the APC’s success reflected the positive strides made under President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which has aimed to reshape Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political systems.
Sanwo-Olu commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for their roles in ensuring a peaceful and credible election. “Yesterday’s election is an example of Nigeria’s can-do spirit. The peaceful nature of the poll should now be a pattern in future elections in Nigeria,” he stated.
Despite the APC’s victory, allegations of vote buying and incidents of violence marred the election process. On election day, operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) arrested a suspected vote buyer with two bags of money at a polling unit in Akure. Isolated clashes also occurred, particularly in Idanre, where tensions arose between rival supporters. Kunle Ajayi, INEC’s supervising national commissioner for the election, confirmed the violence but noted that it was contained.
Responding to allegations of voter inducement, Ondo APC Chairperson Ade Adetimehin dismissed the claims as baseless, asserting that the APC’s victory was a result of its popularity and Aiyedatiwa’s strong performance as governor.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who assumed office in December 2023 following the death of Akeredolu, attributed his win to his extensive engagement with residents and his accomplishments during his brief tenure. “I was the only candidate that covered the entire state. I felt the people, I listened to them, and the people were excited at my appearance. I believe they translated this love to votes,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu echoed these sentiments, stating that Aiyedatiwa’s administration built upon Akeredolu’s legacy and provided a strong platform for the APC’s campaign. “You can’t build something on nothing. We only came here to build layers on the structure provided by Governor Aiyedatiwa and his team,” Sanwo-Olu noted.
Sanwo-Olu assured Ondo residents that the APC would continue to prioritize governance and economic recovery efforts. He emphasized the party’s commitment to maintaining its winning streak in the Southwest, describing the region as “the home of progressive elements in Nigeria’s political landscape.”
The APC’s victory in Ondo State underscores the importance of strong governance, effective campaign strategies, and public trust in achieving electoral success. It also highlights the need to address lingering challenges such as voter inducement and localized violence to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic processes.
Sources
- https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/755135-2024-ondo-election-what-ganduje-sanwo-olu-others-say-about-aiyedatiwas-victory.html
- https://tribuneonlineng.com/ondo-guber-sanwo-olu-congratulates-aiyedatiwa-on-landslide-victory/amp/
