The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate in the just concluded Ondo State governorship election, Myson Nejo, has condemned the conduct of the election, claiming that widespread vote buying played a key role in his defeat.

In an interview with our correspondent on Sunday, Nejo expressed disappointment in the election process, revealing that he lost because he refused to engage in vote buying.

Despite the setback, Nejo said he remained at peace with his principles and was proud of his campaign.

“I thank the people of Ondo State who voted for me without any monetary exchange. I believe my votes are genuine, and I can proudly say I didn’t resort to unethical practices,” Nejo remarked.

He added that, despite his loss, he felt like a winner due to his adherence to ethical standards.

Nejo further disclosed that vote buying was rampant throughout the election, with votes reportedly being purchased for amounts ranging from N10,000 to N20,000.

“In my polling unit, the price was between N10,000 and N15,000 per vote,” he said. “Because I refused to pay for votes, I ended up with only two votes in my unit and about 40 votes in total, but I have no regrets.”

The ADC candidate revealed that some voters had called him asking for money in exchange for their support, but he remained firm in his decision not to engage in the practice.

“I told them if they wanted to vote, they should vote. I wasn’t going to give a kobo for votes,” he added.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the election, with 366,781 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes.

Aiyedatiwa emerged victorious in all 18 local government areas of the state, securing a decisive win in the election.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, has revealed that the party’s efforts to take control of Oyo and Osun states are well underway following its victory in the Ondo State governorship election.

Ganduje made this statement in an interview with journalists shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa the winner of the election.

Ganduje expressed his satisfaction with the election process, which he described as free, fair, and credible, emphasizing that the APC’s triumph in Ondo was a reflection of the people’s support for the party.

He praised INEC for its logistical arrangements, as well as the security agencies, media, and Civil Society Organisations for their contributions to ensuring a smooth electoral process.

“This is a moment of joy. Seeing is believing, and this is democracy in action. All major stakeholders, including INEC, security agencies, and observers, agree that this was a free and fair election,” Ganduje said.

“The most important thing is that the people of Ondo have chosen APC, and with that choice, there will be continuity in governance. Projects will not be abandoned, and development will continue.”

Ganduje also congratulated Governor Aiyedatiwa, calling him a “sellable product” who had successfully won the trust of the electorate.

He further lauded President Bola Tinubu for creating a favorable environment that allowed the APC to succeed in Ondo.

Looking ahead, Ganduje pointed to Oyo and Osun states as the next targets for APC expansion.

“Our next focus in the South-West is Osun and Oyo. We are confident in our ability to bring them into the APC fold, ensuring more political opportunities in the region,” he stated.

The APC Chairman reiterated the party’s commitment to dominating the South-West region ahead of the 2027 general elections, a goal he previously outlined during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ondo.

“We must deliver 100 percent in favor of APC in the South-West. Ondo is just the beginning, and we are strategizing to capture Oyo and Osun states,” Ganduje declared, adding that the party’s efforts are part of a broader plan to boost President Tinubu’s influence in the region.

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday congratulated Lucky Aiyedatiwa on his victory in the recently concluded Ondo State governorship election.

Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, emerged as the winner, securing 366,781 votes, a decisive lead over his closest rival, Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes.

Following Aiyedatiwa’s declaration as winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Tinubu urged any candidates who were dissatisfied with the election results to seek legal recourse through the courts.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga quoted the President as saying, “The President urges candidates dissatisfied with the outcome of the election to explore the opportunities provided by the judicial system to seek redress on areas of conflict.”

Tinubu also expressed his satisfaction with the overall conduct of the election, commending INEC, the police, and other security agencies for their roles in ensuring a smooth process.

He praised Aiyedatiwa and the other 17 candidates for demonstrating maturity and decorum throughout the election and campaign period, noting that the peaceful conduct of the poll was a testament to the state’s civility.

The President further emphasized that the Ondo election was an important test of INEC’s capacity, which he believes was successfully met.

He commended the electoral body for its early preparations, the timely deployment of staff and materials, and the smooth handling of the voting process.

Tinubu also lauded INEC’s achievement in uploading over 98 percent of election results on the same day, a move that bolstered confidence in the integrity of the election.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has condemned the just concluded Ondo State governorship election, labeling it as “far from credible” and alleging widespread malpractices.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Comrade Mark Adebayo, the coalition’s spokesperson, criticized the election process, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of engaging in rampant vote-buying.

Adebayo also expressed concerns about the role of security agencies, alleging their bias and failure to address the issue of electoral malpractice.

He described the situation as “an eyesore,” pointing out that these actions undermined the credibility of the election.

Adebayo further accused the APC of manipulating the political system to consolidate power ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He claimed that the party, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was pushing a dangerous agenda aimed at turning Nigeria into a one-party state.

According to him, this strategy was evident in the recent elections, where the APC allegedly used state machinery to secure its victory.

“The APC has failed on all fronts of governance. From rising insecurity and inflation to unprecedented levels of youth unemployment, the party has brought the country to its knees,” Adebayo stated.

He continued to lambast the ruling party, accusing it of pushing policies that had exacerbated poverty, hunger, and economic decline, all while ignoring the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

Referring to the situation in Ondo State, Adebayo drew parallels with the 2020 Edo State election, claiming that similar tactics of state-sponsored manipulation were used to force an outcome.

He argued that such actions were not democratic but rather part of an ongoing effort by “anti-democratic forces” to undermine the nation’s democracy.

The CUPP vowed to remain vigilant and committed to protecting Nigeria’s democratic process.

“We will continue to fight against forces that seek to dismantle our democracy and oppress the Nigerian people. All efforts will be made to prevent the country from sliding into authoritarianism,” Adebayo concluded.

The opposition coalition’s statement has sparked further debate over the integrity of the electoral process in Ondo, with calls for reforms to safeguard the future of democracy in Nigeria.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has emerged victorious in the Zamfara State local government elections, clinching all 14 chairmanship and 147 councillorship positions.

The results were officially announced on Sunday by Alhaji Bala Aliyu, Chairman of the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC), in Gusau.

Aliyu confirmed that the PDP’s candidates triumphed across all 14 local government areas in the state, with all 147 councillorship seats also going to the party.

A total of 18 political parties participated in the election, but the PDP’s dominance was undisputed as they secured a clean sweep of both chairmanship and councillorship positions.

“The election was successfully concluded, and the results have been declared,” Aliyu said, adding that the process was peaceful and conducted without incident.

He also extended his appreciation to various stakeholders, including security agencies, media, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), for their support during the exercise.

In his remarks, Aliyu commended the electorate for their orderly conduct and peaceful participation, ensuring that the election proceeded smoothly across the state.

He also expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the election, noting the commitment to transparency and fairness throughout the process.

In a decisive and hard-fought contest, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in the Ondo State governorship election, securing a commanding mandate to continue his leadership for the next four years.

Aiyedatiwa, who has been serving as the state’s acting governor since December 2023, was declared the winner by the Returning Officer, following the conclusion of the collation process.

He garnered 366,781 votes, far outpacing his main rival, Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 117,845 votes – a margin of more than 250,000 votes.

The announcement was made at 2:30pm on Sunday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation center in Akure, the state capital.

The final results confirmed that Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor, had won across all 18 local government areas of Ondo State, further cementing his stronghold on the Sunshine State.

His victory ensures that he will remain in office, following his appointment as governor on December 27, 2023, after the passing of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

Akeredolu’s death had paved the way for Aiyedatiwa, who was his deputy during Akeredolu’s first term, to assume the governorship.

In his victory speech, Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to the people of Ondo State for their support, emphasizing the strides his administration had made in the areas of infrastructure, welfare, and economic growth.

“I am humbled by the overwhelming support of our people,” Aiyedatiwa said. “Our government will continue to prioritize the welfare of Ondo residents, ensuring prosperity and progress for all.”

Despite the landslide victory, the election was not without controversy.

Agboola, the PDP candidate, raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

He accused INEC of intentionally delaying the collation of results, suggesting it was a deliberate tactic to manipulate the outcome.

“This election has been compromised,” Agboola said, alleging widespread vote-buying and malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the polls.

Observers also noted reports of rampant vote-buying across the state, despite the presence of security personnel at polling stations.

The Situation Room, an election monitoring group, condemned the prevalence of electoral malpractice, warning that vote trading continued unchecked.

“It is a worrying trend,” the group stated in its assessment, urging for urgent reforms to address these challenges in future elections.

In his campaign, Aiyedatiwa focused on promises of economic growth and improved living conditions for workers in the state, pointing to his administration’s initiative to raise the minimum wage to N73,000 – surpassing the Federal Government’s N70,000 threshold.

His team emphasized that these actions demonstrated his commitment to the well-being of Ondo citizens.

With the results now official, Aiyedatiwa is set to continue his leadership of Ondo State, as he prepares to be sworn in for his first full term as governor on December 27, 2023.

The APC’s victory in Ondo represents a significant political win for the ruling party in the South-West region.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has adjourned the collation of results in the Ondo State governorship election until 12:00 PM on Sunday, November 17, with just three local government areas (LGAs) yet to be accounted for.

The collation resumed briefly following a long break, with results from Okitipupa and Akure North LGAs being announced.

In both of these LGAs, APC candidate Lucky Aiyedatiwa emerged victorious, further extending his lead over his main rival, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP.

DAILY GAZETTE earlier reported that Aiyedatiwa secured victories in all 13 LGAs declared so far, with a lead of over 178,000 votes.

Following the latest results, Aiyedatiwa now has a total of 301,113 votes, while Ajayi has earned 97,051 votes. This gives Aiyedatiwa a commanding lead of 204,062 votes.

However, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja and the Presiding Officer for the election, announced the adjournment due to delays in receiving results from the remaining three LGAs, which are located at a considerable distance.

The final collation is expected to resume at noon.

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for ensuring a peaceful atmosphere during the state’s governorship election.

Speaking in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday after casting their votes, the APC chieftains praised the punctuality and dedication of INEC’s ad-hoc staff and security personnel, as well as the high voter turnout at polling units.

They particularly highlighted the impressive participation of young people, who came out in large numbers to exercise their civic duties.

The leaders noted that the youth in Ondo State appear to have gained a greater appreciation for the importance of their involvement in the electoral process.

Amid the voting, the APC leaders expressed optimism that the results would favor their candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Princess Oladunni Odu, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and an APC gubernatorial aspirant, praised INEC and security agencies for ensuring a peaceful election.

Voting at Unit 1, Ward 2, Idepe-Okitipupa, Odu acknowledged the efforts of INEC staff and law enforcement, including the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for their punctuality and commitment.

“This election has been peaceful. We must give credit to INEC and the security agencies for their professionalism,” Odu said.

“Although the turnout seems lower than in previous elections, I believe more voters will come out later in the day.”

Prof. Adedayo Faduyile, former Special Adviser on Health to the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, also lauded the conduct of the election, calling it peaceful and well-organized. Faduyile, who voted at Unit 5, Ward 6, Ikoya Igbisin-Oloto in Okitipupa, was particularly impressed by the involvement of young voters.

“The election was peaceful, and although the turnout was initially low, I’m encouraged by the large number of youths participating,” Faduyile said.

“It seems they now understand the power of their votes in shaping good governance.”

State lawmaker, Mr. Chris Aiyebusiwa, representing Okitipupa Constituency 1 at the Ondo State House of Assembly, who cast his vote at Unit 11, Ward 1, Ilutitun, Okitipupa LGA, echoed similar sentiments.

He commended INEC and security forces for conducting a credible election, and praised the orderly conduct of voters.

Aiyebusiwa expressed confidence that the APC would secure a victory once the votes were sorted and collated.