Nigeria: Akeredolu Re-elected Governor of Ondo State

Rotimi Akeredolu, incumbent governor of Nigeria’s southwestern Ondo state and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared winner of the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Governor Akeredolu polled a total of 292,830 votes to defeat Eyitayo Jegede candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 195,791 votes, while candidate of the Zenith Labour Party Agboola Ajayi came a distant third and polled a total of 69,127 votes.

Akeredolu was declared winner after he won in fifteen of the eighteen local government areas in Ondo state with Jegede winning in three local government areas. The APC candidate defeated the PDP candidate with a difference of 97, 039 votes.

Voting in Saturday’s Ondo State gubernatorial election was generally peaceful in many parts of the state but was characterised by low turnout of voters for a period of time even though a majority of voters wore facemasks without observing strict physical distancing. The election also witnessed vote buying and pockets of violence.

In some of the polling units monitored by THISDAY, representatives of political parties were seen giving out money to people after voting for their candidates. In other places visited, voters were also seen openly asking for their money after voting.

Violence, malfunctioning of card readers and voters’ non-compliance with COVID-19 guidelines were reports from some observers of the election.

“Violence was observed at the Ijomu polling unit 7 where a voter was attacked with a machete before security agents arrived at the scene and started shooting sporadically in the air.

Also, in Oke-Ijebu Ward 4, Ojumi, someone was shot in the leg by some hoodlums who invaded the area,” Civil Society group, Centre for Democracy and Development said on its official twitter handle.

Earlier, the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed a boat accident that involved officials of the commission who were conveying materials for the election Igbokoda to Ilaje.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of the state, Rufus Akeju in a statement said there was no casualty.

“INEC can confirm that there was an accident last night during the movement of personnel and materials to the riverine registration areas of llaje for the election.

“Fortunately, all personnel and election materials were rescued when the boat capsized. This was made possible by the officers and personnel of the Nigeria Navy, who escorted the boats. The movement was eventually concluded and voting commenced as planned in all the polling units today,” Akeju said in a statement.

Rita Osakwe

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