The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

The Returning Officer, Olayemi Akinwunmi, declared Mr Aiyedatiwa the winner at the state collation centre, INEC headquarters, Alagbaka, Akure.

Mr Akinwunmi, vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja, Kogi State, declared and returned the APC candidate elected at exactly 2:29 p.m.

According to him, Mr Aiyedatiwa polled 366,781 votes to defeat his major rival and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, who came distant second with 117,845 votes, while African Democratic Party’s Adeyemi Nejo came third with 4,138.

“That Aiyedatiwa Lucky Orimisan of the APC, having satisfied all the requirements of law and scored the majority of the lawful, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Mr Akinwunmi, a professor of African history, declared.

Peoples Gazette reports that the incumbent governor won all 18 councils in the state to clinch a landslide victory in the election.

The election, according to observers, defined by vote-buying and low turnout of voters, was largely peaceful across the state.

Mr Aiyedatiwa was the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s deputy before he died in December 2023. Mr Aiyedatiwa was immediately sworn in as the state’s new governor to complete the four-year term of his late principal.