The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Dayo Faduyile of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Ondo South Senatorial District by-election conducted on Saturday.

The INEC Returning Officer, Gbenga Solomon-Ibileye, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, announced the result on Sunday at the collation centre in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Mr Solomon-Ibileye declared Mr Faduyile the winner of the election, having polled the highest number of votes, with 68,474.

He said Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) came second with 1,411 votes, while Adesanya Olaoluwa of the Action People’s Party (APP) and Clement Funso-Nejo of the Boot Party (BP) scored 213 and 70 votes, respectively.

The Returning Officer said the total number of votes cast was 70,770, while 602 votes were rejected.

Speaking, Mutiu Agboke, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, said the by-election was a testing ground for the 2027 general election.

Mr Agboke said the minor hiccups observed would help the commission prepare for forthcoming elections.

“The results of the election reflected the people’s voice and thank God that all INEC staff who went to the riverine came back safely and no negative report anywhere,” he said.

The election was held in six local government areas: Okitipupa, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Irele, Odigbo, and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo.

The by-election was conducted following the appointment of Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. 

(NAN)