Tinubu Declares Confidence In INEC After Aiyedatiwa’s Win

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has proved its capacity to conduct successful elections in the country following the Saturday Governorship election in Ondo state, according to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

President Tinubu has also congratulated Lucky Aiyedatiwa for wining the election.

Tinubu said this on Sunday following the declaration of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the Governor-Elect of the Sunshine State as Ondo is famous.

Incumbent Governor Aiyedatiwa was declared winner by the electoral body after scoring 366, 781votes to defeat his closest rival from the PDP Agboola Ajayi who scored 117, 845 votes in the election.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, according to INEC won in all 18 local governments in the state to emerge winner.

The State Returning Officer, Prof Olayemi Akinwumi, who presented the final results of the elections, on Sunday, said Ayedatiwa scored the majority of the valid votes cast at the poll, and eventually declared him winner.

President Tinubu while reacting to the conduct of the election, said INEC has proved its mettle again as a reliable electoral body.

The president’s remark was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Sunday.

The statement reads in part: “President Bola Tinubu felicitates with the winner of Saturday’s Ondo State Governorship election, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress, while also commending the peaceful conduct of the process.

“The President congratulates Aiyedatiwa and other candidates of the 17 political parties for the maturity and sense of purpose demonstrated during the campaigns and the election, attributing the success of the polls to the civility in the state.

He enjoins the political actors to allow their orderly conduct to permeate the post-election activities and processes.

“President Tinubu believes the Ondo State election was another litmus test of the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission, affirming that the electoral body justified the confidence of the people with early preparations, deployment of staff and materials, and handling of the electoral process.

“The President also commends INEC for the efficiency of uploading more than 98 per cent of results on the same day of the elections.”

The president’s admonition however contrast with that of  not a few Nigerians who insist that the Ondo election was highly compromised by key actors in the election who allegedly connived with some staff of INEC.

For example, viral videos on social media, on Saturday, indicate vote buying among supporters of major political parties which took part in the election.