Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket for the November 16 election. Aiyedatiwa emerged victorious in the party’s primary election, as Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo announced, garnering 48,569 votes. His closest rivals, Mayowa Akinfolarin and Olusola Oke, secured 15,343 and 14,915 votes respectively.
Aiyedatiwa dominated in 16 out of the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with Oke managing to secure victory only in Ilaje LGA. However, reports surfaced of widespread irregularities during the election, prompting calls for its cancellation by several contenders.
Folakemi Omogoroye, one of the female contenders, described the election as a complete violation of democracy. Other contestants including Olusola Oke, Olugbenga Edema, Wale Akinterinwa, Dayo Faduyile, and Jimi Odimayo voiced their dissatisfaction with the election process.
Despite criticisms, Ododo maintained that the primaries, conducted across 203 wards in 18 LGAs, were transparent. Nevertheless, some party members protested in Akure on Sunday evening to challenge the outcome.
Adeniran Oyebade, the director-general for the Olusola Oke Campaign, described the election as a daylight robbery.