Today, November 16, 2024, voters in Ondo State will cast their ballots in the governorship election to choose a successor to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who passed away in December 2023.
The election is looking like a gladiatorial battle and it is likely to be a tough one among tough candidates.
Lucky Aiyedatiwa
Incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), is seeking a full term and faces competition from 16 other candidates, including former Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Aiyedatiwa assumed office following Akeredolu’s passing and has focused his campaign on improving security, boosting the economy, advancing agriculture, infrastructure, and youth empowerment, as well as promoting education and women’s rights.
Abiola Ajayi
Agboola Ajayi, who served as Akeredolu’s deputy during his first term, later joined the PDP following a disagreement. Ajayi’s campaign platform highlights goals in security, agriculture, healthcare, education, industry, and reforms in the civil service.
Others
Other prominent contenders include Sola Ebiseni of the Labour Party and Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party. The winner of today’s election will be determined by a simple majority, with the candidate receiving the highest votes declared the winner.
AFRIPOST will provide live updates and situation reports from different parts of the state as the election kicks off.
OndoDecides2024: INEC uploads 10.65% of Ondo election results to IREV portal
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has successfully uploaded 10.65% of the results from the ongoing Ondo State governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal (IREV).
Atotal of 419 results have been transmitted so far out of the 3,933 polling units across the state.
Results from some collated wards and units so far:
Akure South
Ward 4 Unit 4
PDP 33
APC 63
APGA 1
ADC 1
Voided 4
Result from Oke Meji unit 39, Oda Ward 6, Akure
APC 39
PDP 10
Ward 5 unit 44, Akure South
APC 73
PDP 04
UGBO WARD 1
UNIT – 002
APC – 136
PDP – 12
LP – 1
APGA – 1
ADC – 1
VOID – 4
TOTAL VOTES CAST – 155
Ilaje UGBO WARD 1
UNIT – 002
APC – 136
PDP – 12
LP – 1
APGA – 1
ADC – 1
VOID – 4
TOTAL VOTES CAST – 155
Ward 4 Unit 6, Akure South
APC = 88
PDP = 36
Edo Lodge Ward 4 Unit 33
Apc 88
Pdp 47
Akure south, Ward 4, Unit 1 (Obanla)
PDP 24
APC 61
Void: 4
LP: 1
SDP: 1
PRP:1
PDP: 36
APC: 86
At Aladiye Leo unit 034
Ilaje, Ugbo Ward 1
Ogboti Unit 009
APC 32
PDP 06
ILAJE, UGBO WARD 1
UNIT -007
PDP=12
APC=84
Ilaje, Ugbo ward 1
Unit – 006
APC – 152
PDP- 2
Lp- 10
Akungba Ward 13
Unit 007
APC 162
PDP 26
Time: 2:55pm
Update: Counting of votes begins at Aiyedatiwa’s Ugbon Ward 4, PU 5 at Obenla community, Ilaje LGA
Time: 2:20pm
Update: INEC officials have started marking off unused ballot papers as vote counting commences soon at PU004, Apoi ward 2, Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA
Time: 2:19pm
Location: Ward 12 Akungba, Polling unit: 005 Ibaka1, Christ Primary School, Akoko South West LGA Update: Voting has ended
Time: 12:40
Location: Igbo Ward 4, PU 006 at Obenla community, Ilaje LGA
Update: INEC officials are expecting more residents to come out to cast their votes.
Time: 12:31
Location: PU017, Community High School, Kiribo, Apoi ward 2, Ese-Odo LGA
Update: “Aiyedatiwa has done well in the last 10 months… we’re confident of victory,” says Akinwumi Sowore, Ondo commissioner of lands and housing, after casting his vote.
Time: 11:54
Spotted: Interior minister votes in Ondo guber poll
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, casts his vote at PU17, Ward 3, Court Hall/Igafo/Araoye, Akoko north-west.
Time: 11:31
Mimiko loses his cool, warns against manipulation
Location: PU23, Ward 7, Akure garage, Ondo West.
Update: Abbas Mimiko, the ZLP candidate, has warned party agents, security personnel and INEC officials not to allow voters to be influenced. The governorship candidate was livid as he issued the warning.
Time: 11:15 am
Ife Ehindero, the lawmaker representing Akoko north-east/north-west federal constituency, casts his vote at PU002, Ward 4, St John Oyin Akoko, Akoko north-west.
Time: 11:06 am
Ajayi alleges INEC bias, says ‘system compromised
Agboola Ajayi, the PDP candidate, accused INEC of bias, saying he has received reports of delays in the commencement of voting in parts of the state.
Ajayi said it took almost 10 minutes before he could cast his vote, describing it as an attempt to frustrate voters.
“The system has been compromised… It is sad INEC can’t conduct election well in one state,” Ajayi said.
Time: 7:45 am
INEC officials have started setting up at Ward 4, Obenla community, Ilaje LGA, and voters are already out to check for their names on the voter list. #OndoDecides2024
Time: 7:55 am
Location: Ward 8, PU17, Bethlehem Junction, Ondo west
Update: Election officials are “set and ready”. Voters are checking their names on the register. Busayo Akinsanmoye, the presiding officer, told TheCable the officials arrived at the polling unit around 6:50am. “We’ll start accreditation and voting by 8:30am prompt,” she said.
#OndoDecides2024
Time: 8:01am Location: Ward 8, PU24, Leghii, Ondo west Update: All is set for the commencement of voting in the polling unit #OndoDecides2024
Time: 8:30am Location: PU007, Ward 01, Odeke/Ode Assi Alu, Akoko north-east Update: A police officer addresses the electorate as voting is set to begin. #OndoDecides2024
Time 9:08am: Gov. Aiyedatiwa casts vote at polling unit
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has cast his vote at Polling Unit 6, Ward 4, in Obenla community.
To reach his polling unit, Aiyedatiwa traveled by boat from the Ugbonla jetty, making the journey to participate in the ongoing election.
A sizable crowd of voters had gathered at the jetty early Saturday morning, preparing to travel to their respective communities to cast their ballots and exercise their voting rights.
9:28am
Voting has commenced at Ward 7, PU23, Akure garage, Ondo west.
9:33am
Voting is currently ongoing in PU004, Apo ward 2, RCM Idumado quarter, Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA.
This is the polling unit where Agboola Ajayi, governorship candidate of the PDP will cast his vote.
Ajayi is yet to arrive at his polling unit.
VOTE AND COLLECT SIGNED PAPER
At PU007, Ajagba ward 2, Irele LGA, some party agents are handing out signed papers to voters.
Some voters told newsmen that the papers will be used to collect cash from the agents after the election. They don’t know the exact amount yet.
Stay on this thread…