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APC sweeps Ondo LG polls

…wins in another 18-0 scenario

*ODIEC presents certificates of return to chairmen-elect Monday, councillors-elect Tuesday

*Gov Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, Speaker commend peaceful conduct

By Josephine Oguntoyinbo,
Jubril Bada, Kemi Olatunde,
& Adetotun Ajayi

|

The rulling All Progressives Congress (APC), has won all the 18 chairmanship seats in the local government elections conducted by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC),  held on Saturday January 18, 2025.

The ODIEC chairman, Dr. Joseph Aremo, who announced the results at the commission’s headquarters on Sunday, also said the APC won all the 203 councillorship wards in the state.

He stated that the commission will today present certificates of return to all chairmen-elect, while councillors-elect will receive theirs on Tuesday.

The political parties which participated in the Saturday election are; Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Party (ADP), Action People’s Party (APP), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Boot Party (BP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Youth Party (YP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Ten political parties that presented candidates for the chairmanship positions are: AA: 1, APP: 2, APC: 18, APGA: 1, BP: 1, LP: 4, NNPP: 1, SDP: 2, YP: 1, ZLP: 3

Also, the political parties which presented candidates for the councilorship seats in the election are: ADP: 1, APP: 11, APC: 203, APGA: 1, BP: 2, LP: 14, NRM: 1, NNPP: 20, YP: 10 and ZLP: 10

The APC secured all the councillorship seats in the 203 political wards of the state in the elections.

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Announcing the results in Akure on Sunday, the chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Dr. Joseph Aremo, described the election as “free, fair, and credible.”

He expressed satisfaction with the conduct of all electoral officers during the exercise.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier declared its withdrawal from the elections through a letter submitted to ODIEC, citing a lack of confidence and concerns over the commission’s perceived double standards in conducting free, fair, and credible elections.

Meanwhile, the commission nullified the earlier declaration of 1,494 votes for the PDP councillorship candidate, Salami Lateef, at the Ajowa/Igashi/Eriti/Igedegede Ward 5 in Akoko North West. The APC candidate, Oluwatuyi Ezekiel Ajiboye, was subsequently declared the winner.

The earlier declaration of the PDP candidate as the winner of the ward, according to the ODIEC chairman, was not in accordance with the extant laws, and the votes allocated to the party were declared invalid.

He explained that the votes for the PDP were rendered invalid because the party did not participate in the elections following its withdrawal from the exercise on January 15.

“For a candidate to participate in an election, such a candidate must be sponsored by a political party,” he noted.

Reacting the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, underscored the importance of the process in fostering grassroots development.

Governor Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to bolstering the local government system, in compliance with the law, as a means to achieve sustainable development in communities.

Aiyedatiwa who voted at Polling Unit 5, Ugbo Ward 4, Ilaje Local Government area, lauded the smooth electoral process and commended the efforts of the ODIEC.

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On his part, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, expressed satisfaction with voters turnout.

In a statement issued by John Paul Akinduro, Press Secretary to the State Governor (Office of the Deputy Governor), said the election will deepen delivery of good governance at the grassroots level which is closest to the people.

The Deputy Governor also praised the ODIEC, security agencies and other stakeholders for ensuring the peaceful conduct of the election.

Also the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Olamide Oladiji, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).

While emphasising the importance of the local government elections, Oladiji appreciated Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his various initiatives aimed at promoting smooth and effective grassroots development in the Sunshine State.

The Speaker later commended the people of the State for maintaining peace and coming out to cast their votes.

The immediate past Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Oyeniyi Oseni commended the State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa for providing a peaceful atmosphere for political parties to exercise their popularity in the election in the state.

He made the commendation while speaking with The Hope shortly after casting his vote at his Iyometa ward, unit 001 polling unit in Ikare – Akoko on Saturday.

According the him, the atmosphere was not charged as it was peaceful in all the polling units in the town adding, that voters have performed their civic responsibility as and when due.

“The environment was calm as the exercise was peaceful. Everyone has come to vote and returned to their houses. There has not been crisis in any polling unit so far. People voted massively and this was because people have so much confidence in the electoral process.

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“Although the turnout was lower compared to that of the governorship election in this LGA but the election was peaceful and fair,” he said.

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APC sweeps Ondo LG polls

Ondo records peaceful LG polls

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