The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

The announcement was made by the Returning Officer, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja, at the state collation center, INEC Ondo headquarters in Alagbaka, Akure. Prof. Akinwunmi announced the results at 2:29 pm, stating that Aiyedatiwa secured 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes. Adeyemi Nejo of the African Democratic Party (ADP) finished third with 4,138 votes.

Governor Aiyedatiwa achieved a clean sweep, winning all 18 local government areas in the state. None of the other candidates managed to secure victory in any local government area.

Prof. Akinwunmi declared:  “That Aiyedatiwa Lucky Orimisan of the APC, having satisfied all the requirements of the law and scored the majority of lawful votes, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”

The election, characterized by low voter turnout and reports of vote-buying, was largely peaceful across the state.  Aiyedatiwa, who succeeded the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in December 2023 after his passing, has now been elected to serve a full four-year term as the governor of Ondo State. This landslide victory solidifies APC’s hold on the state and reflects a decisive endorsement of Aiyedatiwa’s leadership by the electorate.