Amidst protests over the conduct of the APC primary in Ondo, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was declared the winner early Monday morning.

The chairman of the Primary Election Committee for Ondo, Governor Usman Ododo, said Mr Aiyedatiwa, having satisfied the law’s requirement and scored the highest vote, was the winner.

One hundred seventy-one thousand nine hundred twenty-two party members were revalidated to vote in 203 wards in the 18 local government areas.

Mr Ododo said the incumbent Ondo governor polled 48,569 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Mayowa Akinfolarin, who had 15,343 out of 95,178 valid votes counted. Mr Olusola Oke was third with 14,195 votes.

According to the chairman of the election committee, Mr Aiyedatiwa won in 16 out of the 18 local government areas of the state while Oke won in one.

He said that there was no voting in the Ifedore LGA due to widespread violence and threat to life.

Mr Ododo commended party members who participated in the primary for their courage and perseverance, describing the primary election as peaceful.

He encouraged party members not to be divided by the primary results but to remain united and stronger ahead of the gubernatorial poll. 

The party adopted the direct mode for the primary, which was held on Saturday. However, due to some irregularities, a rerun was ordered on Sunday in the 13 wards in Okitipupa LGA.

Earlier, some of the aspirants criticised the election, alleging violence and the non-arrival of materials and officials in some wards. On Sunday, supporters of some aspirants at the APC secretariat in Akure protested, calling for the cancellation of the poll.

Other aspirants who participated in the primary were Isaac Kekemeke, Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Olugbenga Edema, Jimoh Ibrahim, Diran Iyantan, Dayo Faduyile, Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Adewale Akinterinwa, Olusola Oke, Ohunyeye Felix, Morayo Lebi, Judith Omogoroye and Jimi Odimayo. 

(NAN)