The All Progressive Congress has won the 18 chairmanship and 203 councilorship seats in the local government election held on January 18 in Ondo.

Joseph Aremo, chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), announced this at the commission’s headquarters on Sunday night in Akure.

Mr Aremo, who explained that 12 political parties keenly contested the election, said it was peaceful without any incidents.

He said the contest for chairmanship and councillorship seats was in the 18 local government areas and 203 wards, respectively.

“The election across the 203 wards was keenly contested, and candidates sponsored by APC emerged as councillors-elect in the 2025 local government election of Ondo state.

“Also for the chairmanship election as well, it was keenly contested and from presentations made at the respective LG level, the candidates of APC emerged winner across all the 18 councils,” the ODIEC chairman said.

Mr Aremo appreciated residents in the state for upholding the tenets of the rule of law and coming out to vote for the candidates of their choice.

According to him, the presentation of the results shows that Saturday’s election was free, fair, credible and transparent.

He assured residents of the commission’s readiness to do more in subsequent elections and called on political parties to play their roles in terms of voter education and participation.

“Whatever the shortcoming we have identified in the process, we will definitely improve, especially in the area of enlightenment.

“But we cannot do it alone because political parties must step up the desire to enlighten their members in terms of voter education and participation.

“Sovereignty ultimately belongs to the people and they should be allowed to choose whoever they want as their leaders,” he said.

The Peoples Democratic Party withdrew their participation 48 hours before the election. They alleged a lack of confidence in ODIEC  conducting a free, credible, and transparent election.

(NAN)