Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the winner of Ondo State’s governorship election, officially received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alongside his deputy, Olayide Adelami. The presentation, held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, marked a significant milestone in the state’s political landscape.

INEC National Commissioner for Ondo State, Kunle Ajayi, presented the certificates during the ceremony on Wednesday. Aiyedatiwa, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), attended the event with party dignitaries, including National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and other APC members.

Victory at the Polls
Aiyedatiwa emerged victorious with 366,781 votes, defeating Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes. The results were announced by the election’s Returning Officer, Professor Olayemi Akinyemi, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, in Akure on Sunday.

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Observers praised the election for its peaceful and credible conduct, commending INEC for improved logistics. However, the PDP rejected the outcome, describing the process as flawed. Agboola Ajayi has vowed to challenge the result in court.

Commitment to Service
Expressing gratitude to the people of Ondo State after receiving his certificate, Aiyedatiwa pledged to honor the renewed mandate by improving governance. “The mandate you have just renewed via your huge votes across 18 LGAs where we won convincingly has placed a burden on me to serve you better than I did before now,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as governor last December following the death of his predecessor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who passed away after a prolonged illness.

APC Leaders Celebrate Democracy
National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje celebrated the APC’s success, calling it a victory for democracy. He emphasized the continued evolution of Nigeria’s democratic system, stating, “Since 1999, we have been enjoying democracy, and we always fine-tune it so that it is fair, free, and decent.”

As the political scene in Ondo unfolds, all eyes remain on the outcome of the PDP’s legal challenge and Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to delivering on his promises.