Ifeoluwa Ehindero, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s by-election for Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State, has been declared winner of the exercise. 

Mr Ehindero, who had earlier expressed optimism of winning the election, was declared victorious by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday night. 

Johnson Fasinmirin of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), the Returning Officer of the election, declared the APC candidate winner after the counting of votes at Victory College, Ikare-Akoko, venue of the final collation exercise.  

Mr Fasinmirin revealed that Mr Ehindero scored a total of 35,504 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olalekan Bada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Peoples Gazette reports that Mr Bada garnered 15,328 votes.

He said that the total votes cast were 51,896 with valid votes at 51,341 while 555 votes were rejected.

“That Ehindero Ifeoluwa Babajide of APC having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and return elected,” the INEC returning officer added. 

Mr Ehindero defeated Mr Bada with 20,176 votes to emerge the winner.

However, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ishmail Adeshina, came a distant third with 213 votes. 

Mr Ehindero has dedicated his victory to the support he gathered from the constituents who overwhelmingly supported him at the poll. 

“This victory is for all of us. I’m happy. Truly, the people have spoken with their votes,” he said in a short message. 

The by-election in Akoko NorthEast/NorthWest Federal Constituency was conducted on Saturday to fill the seat vacated by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior appointed by President Bola Tinubu. 

Before his appointment, Mr Tunji-Ojo was a former member of the House of Representatives occupying the federal seat at the National Assembly.