Ondo: INEC Says Aiyedatiwa Won Fair And Square

By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has insisted that last Saturday’s Governorship election in Ondo state was fair and credible.

This is just as the Commission presented Certificate of Return to  Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in Abuja on Wednesday.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Supervising National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Ondo, Ogun and Osun states, Prof Kunle Ajayi, who represented INEC national chairman, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, praised the people of Ondo state for their peaceful conduct during the election.

Ajayi reiterated INEC’s commitment to conducting credible and conclusive elections, saying: “This celebration marks the culmination of a democratic process that reflects the will and aspiration of the good people of Ondo state.

“First, I will like to commend and congratulate the good people of Ondo state on the way and manner in which they conducted themselves in the just concluded governorship election. The voters attitude was generally impressive and there was no major electoral violence incident recorded.

“INEC remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring free, fair, credible, inclusive, and conclusive elections. The recently concluded Ondo state governorship election is a testament to our dedication to upholding these values.

“I will like to thank every stakeholder that contributed toward the successful conduct of this election from the voters, for coming out.”

Governor Aiyedatiwa promised more developmental strides across the state as a way of repaying the massive votes given him in the just concluded election by the people of the State.

The Governor stated this at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja shortly after receiving his certificate of return from the electoral body.

The Governor, who was presented the certificate alongside his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, thanked the people of the state for the confidence reposed in him by the unprecedented number of votes.

“I cannot but express my overwhelming gratitude to the people of Ondo state who came out en masse on the 16th of November, 2024 to cast their votes for our party, the APC, and by extension, for myself and my deputy in that governorship election.

The mandate you have just renewed via your huge votes across the 18 local governments of Ondo state, where we won convincingly, has placed a burden on me to serve you better than I have done in the last ten months.”

The Governor, who commended INEC for conducting one of the most peaceful elections in the country, also praised President Bola Tinubu for providing a level playing field for all contestants in the election.

“I cannot but also thank the leader of our party, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the leadership he has provided for our nation and our party.

“He was very unbiased in his approach. He did not favour one person over the other, irrespective of political party. He provided a level playing ground for all of us during that contest.

“I will also like to thank the National Chairman of our party, who is also here with me today to identify with this success story, His Excellency, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for the leadership he has provided for our party since he came on board as national chairman.

“I also like to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for conducting a fair, transparent, credible and conclusive election that returned myself and my deputy as the winners of that election.We commend you for your efforts.”