By BASHIR ADEFAKA
In spite of unprecedented experience of inconclusive that characterised the primary elections of All Progressives Congress (APC), which never happened in the history of the exercise anywhere in Nigeria, “man of destiny”, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa eventually clinched the ticket to represent the party as its Governorship Candidate at the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
Rumours had filtered into the public space of a resentment against the early lead of the the waterside politician standing on a date with destiny, who made it from singular choice of his former boss, late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to ascend the office of Deputy Governor then Acting Governor, then substantive Governor and now, agaibst all odds, popularly elected Governorship Candidate of the APC as #OndoDecides later in November 2024.
Although presidency would not respond to such enquiries for clarification, it had been said at certain quarters that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had interest in Senator Jimoh Ibrahim from the same waterside (Ondo South) with the governor and Chief Olusola Oke as his annointed candidate, thus necessitating the controversies that greeted the signal of Aiyedatiwa’s early lead on Saturday and the never-happened-before inconclusive declaration that followed.
The primary election exercise was greeted with wide criticisms with some contenders calling for cancellation and conducting of fresh election and former First Lady Betty Akeredolu expressing concerns that thuggery at elections already pushed to the past by her late husband as governor was witnessed in the Saturday’s process.
At the end of the controversial process, the Ondo State Governor, (always) Lucky Aiyedatiwa, nonetheless secured nomination of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming governorship election, following his declaration as the party’s torchbearer.
Aiyedatiwa clinched the nomination with a resounding victory, amassing a total of 48,569 votes in the primaries.
His closest contender, Mayowa Akinfolarin, trailed behind with 15,343 votes, while Chief Olusola Oke secured the third position with 14,865 votes while the rumoured annointed candidate was nowhere near.
The announcement was made by Chairman of the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Governor Ododo, reflecting on the competitive nature of the primaries, highlighted the rigorous contest that characterised the electoral process.
Indirect by nature and held across the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State like mode of prinaries by which Akinwunmi Ambode was denied second term in Lagos, the primaries witnessed fervent participation from party members and supporters.
With the nomination secured, Aiyedatiwa and the APC have now shift their focus to consolidating support and rallying behind their candidate as they prepare for the face off against opponents in the November election.
Returning Officer in lfedore, Oliver Okpala, said violence marred the exercise in the area, hence no voting in all the wards.
Speaking before the party’s Electoral Officers reeled out the results from the 18 council areas, Governor Usman Ododo said, “Let’s remember that the real election lies with all of us as members of this great party, the All Progessives Congress.
“We must always reflect on the words of our father and leader, President Bola Tinubu, who has maintained that a political contest is a quest to serve by brothers and sisters from the same family but leaving in the same room and must therefore live in the same house after the election has been won and lost.
“In our own room today, we are all in the same room as a family, and as such, we have no need to abandon the party, irrespective of today’s outcome.
”We must set aside our differences and unite behind our candidate.
“In our unity, we shall continue to find strength, and our victory lies in our solidarity as party men and women.”
DETAILS OF RESULTS FROM LGAS
Total number of voters 117922
Total number of accredited voters 95,178
Total votes cast 95178
Invalid- Nil
Jimi Odimayo 490
Omogoroye Judith 115
Aiyedatiwa 48,569
Kekemeke 1045
Soji Ehinlanwo 492
Olugbenga Edema 395
Jimoh lbrahim 9456
Adekojo Funmilayo 529
Akinfolarin Samuel 15343
Wale Akinterinwa 1952
Olusola Oke 14,915
Olamide Ohunyeye 424
Morayo Lebi 290
Diran lyantan 348
Prof Dayo Faduyile 353
Ife Oyedele 462
1:ILAJE LG
Lucky Aiyedatiwa 2,485
Wale Akinterinwa. 26
Olusola Oke. 2,511
Jimoh Ibrahim 589
2: Ile Oluji/Okeigbo
Jimoh Ibrahim: 282
AIYEDATIWA: 1225
WA: 474
3: Ondo West LG:
Jimoh Ibrahim: 2668
AIYEDATIWA: 10610
4: ESE-ODO LG
Aiyedatiwa 298
Akinterinwa 0
Oke 147
Jimoh Ibrahim 174
5: OWO LG
Aiyedatiwa 2,123
Akinterinwa. 345
Oke 225
Jimoh Ibrahim 192
6: IDANRE LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 579
Akinterinwa 119
Oke 225
Jimoh Ibrahim 120
7: AKOKO NORTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 664
Akinterinwa 135
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 505
8: AKOKO NORTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa 5, 430
Akinterinwa 198
Oke 2, 721
Jimoh Ibrahim 728
9: AKOKO SOUTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 533
Akinterinwa 43
Oke 391
Jimoh Ibrahim 67
10: AKOKO SOUTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 747
Akinterinwa 272
Oke 415
Jimoh Ibrahim 466
11: NO RESULT FOR IFEDORE LGA.
ALL ASPIRANTS SCORED ZERO ACCORDING TO THE RETURNING OFFICER DUE TO AN ALLEGED SHOOTING.
12: OSE LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 091
Akinterinwa 39
Oke 800
Jimoh Ibrahim 267
13: IRELE LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 203
Akinterinwa 15
Oke 93
Jimoh Ibrahim 139
14: ODIGBO LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 631
Akinterinwa 114
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 845
15: AKURE NORTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 860
Akinterinwa 177
Oke 1, 239
Jimoh Ibrahim 1, 606
16: AKURE SOUTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 3, 265
Akinterinwa 86
Oke 328
Jimoh Ibrahim 294
17 OKITIPUPA LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 622
Akinterinwa 27
Oke 1, 571
Jimoh Ibrahim 109
18: ONDO EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 4, 803
Akinterinwa 141
Oke 1, 171
Jimoh Ibrahim 406
