- As Mixed reactions greet Akeredolu’s victory
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said the All Progressives Congress, APC, is out to create jobs and restore the economy the country. Buhari’s remark was contained in a statement congratulating the governor-elect of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu.
Buhari in the statement by his Media Aide, Femi Adesina, described Akeredolu’s victory at the Saturday’s governorship election in the state as “a well-deserved victory.”
The President also congratulated the National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, the Chairman of the Campaign Committee, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, and all party faithful who worked towards the victory of the party in Ondo State.
He said, “From the beginning, this election set out to be a different kind of election. The unity and resilience of the party was tested. I am happy we came out of this victorious.
“This is a huge win. The mood today is against corruption, insecurity and for the restoration of the economy and the creation of jobs. This is where the party stands and I am happy that the electorate has read the situation correctly.”
In the meantime, several hours after the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Rotimi Akeredolu, was declared as the winner of the Ondo State governorship poll, the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alliance for Democracy and Social Democratic Party have neither conceded defeat nor congratulated him.
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, who is the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Returning Officer for the election, declared the Owo-born Akeredolu as the winner with 244,842 votes to beat 27 other contestants.
Ambali said the candidate of the PDP, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), the candidate of the AD, Olusola Oke, and the candidate of the SDP, Olu Agunloye, came second, third and fourth having polled 150,380, 126,889 and 10,147 votes respectively.
The vice-chancellor said, “Mr. Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, having satisfied the requirements of the law and having scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”
The returning officer said the state had 1,647,973 voters but 584,997 voters were accredited and 580,887 votes were the total vote cast.
He explained that 551,272 votes were the total valid votes while 29,615 were rejected votes.
The Citizen with additional report from Punch
