Collation of Results Ongoing in Ondo Governorship Election

Voting Has ended and collation of results ongoing in the Ondo State governorship election holding today.

The major contenders in the election are incumbent Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP and Abbas Mimiko of the ZLP.

Earlier, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo, Agboola Ajayi had said he does not trust the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a credible election.

Ajayi who spoke on Saturday after casting his ballot at his polling unit in Ese-Odo LGA criticised the commission’s pace, saying it is a deliberate attempt to rig the polls.

“The system is not perfect, things are not working,” Ajayi told reporters.

“A lot of complaints here and there… INEC cannot organise elections in just one state.”

Meanwhile, Gov Aiyedatiwa says he is optimistic to win the election due to his record in office.

He stated this after voting at polling unit 05, Igbo ward 4, Obenla in Ilaje LGA.

Speaking to journalists after casting his vote, Gov Aiyedatiwa commended security operatives for ensuring a peaceful exercise.

He said the election has been seamlessly executed across the state.

“I want to believe that victory will come my way. I have just cast my vote here in my unit 05 Ilaje LGA of Ondo state,” Aiyedatiwa said.

“Here in my unit, the community has been calm and peaceful, and the turnout is very encouraging and I want to believe that the same situation will be at the other locations across the state.

“It’s peaceful here, I believe it should be peaceful in other locations.

“I want to commend the security agencies, police, civil defence, military, they have heavily deployed to be able to attend to any security threat.

“Ondo state has been adjudged to be one of the most safe and peaceful states in Nigeria and we have been having our elections in a peaceful environment and this very one will not be different.

“The citizens, they are law abiding. They know what they want and who they want. I believe the election will be very, very peaceful, credible.

“I went through the whole process of accreditation before casting my vote and I believe the INEC will do the same at every location.

“So, I want to believe that the process will be very, very transparent, credible, and I hope to see many of them.”

Gov Aiyedatiwa further called on residents to come out and exercise their franchise without fear or favour.

Speaking on his chances, the governor said he is in pole position to win the election.

The APC candidate added that he was the only contender who traversed the 18 LGAs to solicit votes.

“Well, I believe with what we have done in the last 10 months, the populace, the voters, like I said, they know who they want and I believe I will win this election because of the work that I have done in the last 10 months,” he added.

“I want to say that I was the only candidate that covered the entire 18 local governments during the campaign period.”

Similarly, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Abbas Mimiko, had called on voters not to sell the future of their children by voting in the wrong person as Governor.

He said; “There’s no good governance in Ondo. Besides that, there seems to be peace from the reports reaching us. The law enforcement agencies seem to be living up to their billing,” he said.

“INEC seems to be carrying out their own duties fairly and justly. I had no doubt in my mind that the president will instruct the right things to be done. They won’t be partial.

“So it’s left for us, the citizens of Ondo state, to decide not to go the ‘see and buy way’ that is happening all over the place.

“Don’t sell your future for N20,000… the future of your children.”