Early results from polling units across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State indicate that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is leading in the governorship election which was held yesterday.
The results showed that Aiyedatiwa was ahead of his main rival and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and former deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi.
As of the time of filing this report last night, over 98.37 percent of results from the polling units had been uploaded on the result viewing (IReV) portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This indicated that of the 3,933 polling units across the 18 councils of the state, results from 3,869 polling units had been uploaded on the portal.
A breakdown of some of the results from the polling units showed that APC’s Aiyedatiwa got higher numbers.
For instance, in Akoko North East LGA: In Ekan Ward, Ilepa PU, APC scored 192 against PDP’s 45. Iyometa II Ward, Idomu/Agbrun/Owajimite PU, APC got 218, PDP got 45.
In Isowopo ward II, Upeli 1&11/Ilepa, St Paul’s Pry School Auga polling unit, APC got 204 and PDP 0 (zero);in Oyinmo ward, Kowode/Suberu/Odeniyans polling unit, APC scored 142 while PDP got 44.
In Ode ward, Okereo/Odose/Ode Ateti polling unit, APC scored 251, while PDP got 46.
In Idanre local government area, Ala/Elefosan ward the total results showed APC got 1,089 against PDP’s 547; in Isalu Ehinpeti ward, Ugbepo/Ago Aruwajoye polling unit, APC scored 62, PDP got 43.
In Akure North local government area: Iluabo/Eleyewo/Bolorunduro ward, Opara Sawmill polling unit, APC got 65 while PDP 12; in Moferere ward, St Matthew I/II polling unit, APC scored 102, while PDP got 67; Odo-Oja/Ijigbo ward, Odo-Oja polling unit, APC recorded 171, while PDP got 59.
In Ifedore local government: In Ipogun/Ibule ward, St Peter’s Sch, Ipogun polling unit, APC scored 199, PDP got 21; in Ijare ward, Ode Esi polling unit, APC scored 125 against PDP’s 60.
In Akure South LGA: In Lisa ward, Alagbaka Prim School 2, polling unit, APC scored 71 while PDP got 41.
In Ilaje LGA: in Mahin 11 ward, Ebute Ipare, polling unit, APC scored 106, PDP recorded 12; in Ugbo V1 ward, Molutehin 11 polling unit, APC scored 83, PDP scored 37.
In Akoko North West LGA: In Okeagbe ward, AFFA 1 polling unit, APC got 183 while PDP scored 27; In Ogbagi ward, Ala/Aladegbaye polling unit, APC scored 188 while PDP got 40.
In Owo LGA: in Igboroko 1 ward, Near Oludasas House polling unit, APC scored 176, PDP got 35; in Ehinogbe ward, Akinlelu/Asolo Compound polling unit, APC recorded 226 and PDP scored 9.
Recall that out of over two million registered voters, 1,757,205 voters collected their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs), making them eligible to vote. A total of 295, 856 PVCs were uncollected.
Early Turnout And Voting
As early as 7am yesterday, eligible voters across the state have trooped out in large numbers to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice just as INEC officials and election materials arrived early in most polling units in the state.
LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that accreditation and voting processes commenced at most of the polling units across the state at about 8:30am.
In some areas, particularly, the Southern senatorial district of the state, INEC officials at Idumado Unit 4 Ward 2, Kiribo in the Ese-Odo Local Government Area were on ground as early as 6:50am.
Also, a heavy security presence consisting personnel of the Police, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service manned strategic points across the state.
Armed security personnel were observed at strategic points such as the entrance into Akure, the state capital, major towns like Ondo, Ore, Okitipupa, and Ilaje among others and the local governments’ secretariats and other major roads in the state to enforce the restriction of human and vehicular movements.
However, the election witnessed low voter turnout in some areas while there was a commendable to high turnout in parts of Ondo North Central and South where the two major contenders, PDP’s Agboola Ajayi and APC’s Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, hail from.
In some units in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo local government, LEADERSHIP Sunday observed a low turnout of voters.
Commenting on the development, the chairman of Odigbo local government, Hon Taiwo Adegoroye, said, “Though we experienced a low turnout of voters in today’s election, I am confident that the APC will win this poll.”
Adegoroye thanked the security agents for their presence during the polls, adding that their presence helped to maintain law and order during the exercise.
He said, “We are glad that there was no form of violence or intimidation during the exercise; all this is attributed to the presence of the security agents here.”
Meanwhile, in the election which was described by the stakeholders as one of the most peaceful elections in the state, both APC and PDP candidates won their polling units.
While Aiyedatiwa won in his unit 5 Ward 4, Obenla, Ilaje local government area of the state with 128 votes, PDP candidate Ajayi defeated the governor in his unit 4 Idumado Quarter Kiribo in Ese-Odo LGA with 194 votes.
Earlier, addressing journalists after casting his vote, Ajayi berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for not living up to expectations of the masses over its alleged poor performance.
He specifically asked the INEC chairman, Prof Yakub Mahmood, to resign if he could not conduct a credible election.
Recall that the PDP candidate voted a few minutes after a battle with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine for accreditation.
He accused INEC of compromise in the delayed capturing experienced by himself and some other voters across the state.
Ajayi said, “I think Nigerians should call on the chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu. If he cannot do the job, he should just resign. This is embarrassing. This is sad and Nigerians are not happy.”
The PDP candidate also faulted the heavy presence of armed military officers and security agents in the state, saying the state is not at war.
But Governor Aiyedatiwa commended both the INEC and security agencies for their professionalism.
Speaking with journalists, Aiyedatiwa said, “I’m here in Obenla community. I have just cast my vote at Unit 05, Ugbo Ward 4. Here in my community and unit, it is calm and peaceful, and the turnout is very encouraging. I want to believe that the same thing is happening in other locations of Ondo State.
“I want to commend the security agencies. They are heavily deployed to attend to security threats, and the people are peaceful, and we are peaceful in Ondo State; the citizens are law-abiding, and they know what they want.
“I believe the election will be very credible and fair. I went through the process before casting my vote. The process will be very transparent and conclusive at the end of the day.
“INEC officials have been here since yesterday and they started early today. I have cast my vote and this is just passed nine, and some other voters have cast their votes before I got here.
“My message to the residents of Ondo State, especially the eligible voters, is that they should go out en mass to vote and decide who will govern them for the next four years. They should go out without any fear. The environment is peaceful, so they should all come out and vote.
“I believe that with all we have done in the last ten months, the populace, the voters know what they want and I believe I’m at an advantageous position to win this election because of the work that I have done since I assumed office as a governor.
“I was the only candidate that covered the entire 18 local government areas during the campaign period and also major communities. I saw them with my eyes. I listened to them, responded to their requests and they were always excited at my appearance and I believe that they will translate that love into votes today which is giving me the confidence that the outcome of this election will be to my advantage and victory will come my way.”
Meanwhile, an election monitoring team, YIAGA Africa, has urged INEC to ensure strict adherence to the guidelines for results collation and to allow party agents, accredited media, and election observers access to the collation centres.
Addressing journalists in Akure, the state capital yesterday, YIAGA Africa also advised security agencies to remain professional and non-partisan throughout the voting and results collation process, and to impose appropriate sanctions for any violations of the Electoral Act.
It called on all electoral stakeholders, including citizens, INEC, political parties and security agencies, to remain committed to the peaceful completion of the election.
YIAGA Africa commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for arresting mercenaries deployed by political parties to buy votes, urging security and anti-graft agencies to ensure the diligent prosecution of individuals caught in the act.
The organisation pledged to provide timely, statistically representative information about the conduct of the election. It appealed to INEC, security agencies, political party candidates and their supporters, and all residents of Ondo State to work together to ensure a credible and peaceful election.
A statement from the monitoring group said, “YIAGA Africa Watching The Vote is deploying the Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology to observe the Ondo State governorship election. This involves the deployment of 300 stationary observers to a representative, randomly selected sample of 300 polling units across the 18 LGAs, and 24 roving observers.
“Using the PRVT, YIAGA Africa will independently verify whether the official governorship election results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reflect the votes cast at the polling units.
“At the end of polls, YIAGA Africa observers will deploy to all LGAs and the State’s results collation centres to observe and report on the results collation process. This deployment will enable YIAGA Africa to provide the most timely and accurate information on the governorship elections in the state.
“In its pre-election statement, YIAGA Africa reported that the lead-up to the elections was relatively peaceful. On election day, the process began calmly and in an orderly manner, demonstrating citizens’ interest in participating peacefully.
“Citizens arrived early at their assigned polling units to cast their votes in the gubernatorial election. Additionally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and transport union groups successfully deployed election officials and materials across the state.
“By 7:30 am, election officials had arrived at 71 percent of the polling units. By 9:30am, accreditation and voting were underway in 91 percent of the observed polling units.”
Also, the Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD-West Africa), through its Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), said it noted instances of vote buying in the Ondo State Governorship election yesterday.
In a statement signed by the lead, CDD-EAC Observation Mission Ondo 2024, Professor Victor Adetula, and the director, CDD-West Africa, Dr Dauda Garuba, the organisation said in Okitipupa local government area, Ward 09, Unit 003 (Irowa, Ilutitun 3), voters were solicited for their votes, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly offering ₦10,000 per voter and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) offering ₦3,000. In Odigbo LGA, Ward 01, Unit 001 (Oja Baale, Agbabu), reports of vote-buying were noted, with APC allegedly offering ₦10,000 and PDP ₦5,000 per voter.
Observers sent by the organisation also noted that some party agents started transferring money to voters to circumvent having to hold cash. They said in Ese-Odo, Ward 07, Unit 013 (Tari Ama Zion Ugo Community, Arogbo Ward 2), vote-buying was observed, with PDP offering ₦3,000 and APC offering ₦5,000 to voters.
“In places where the practice of ‘see and buy’ was difficult because of the presence of security personnel, voters were seen capturing their ballot with phones and presented as proof to be paid,” the organisation said.
It said a dispute that required security agents’ intervention was recorded at Ifedore LGA, Ward 1, PU 12 (Olafare) when an APC agent attempted to assist a person with disabilities in voting, which was strongly opposed by a PDP agent.
It said security officers had to be prompted to intervene when APC supporters overpowered PDP agents when voter suppression was noticed at Akoko North West, Oke Agbe Ward 3, Unit 17, the polling unit of the minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The organisation commended security officers for contributing to crowd control, but noted that “however, minimal efforts were made to prevent vote-buying and open campaigning at the polling units.”
While lamenting the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the CDD-EAC noted that there was at least one in all the polling units observed.
