Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday, appealed to other aspirants who lost out at the just-concluded party primary ‘to come together to work for the success of our great party to remain in power.’
Aiyedatiwa was announced the winner of the primary after he garnered 48,569 votes.
Chairman of the primary election committee, Governor Ahmed Ododo, said a total of 95,178 members of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State of 171,922 revalidated members, participated in the primary.
Ododo announced that the other aspirants including Wale Akinterinwa, got, 1,952, Olusola Oke; 14,915, Jimoh Ibrahim; 9,456, Isaac Kekemeke; 1,045, Gbenga Edema; 395, Olamide Ohunyeye; 424, Jimi Odimayo; 490, Olusoji Ehinlanwo; 492, Morayo Lebi; 290, Diran Iyantan; 348, Francis Faduyile; 353, Ifeoluwa Oyedele; 462, Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo; 529 and Funke Omogoroye; 115.
The Kogi Governor said, “Reports from the field revealed that the primary election went on peacefully, and at the end of the exercise, votes were counted and recorded.
“By the power conferred on the committee, and in line with APC guidelines for the nomination of the candidate, of the party in the general election, I Ahmed Usman Ododo, Governor of Kogi State and the Chairman of the Committee and the Returning Officer of the Ondo State APC governorship primary election, held on the 20th, 2024, hereby declared that Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest numbers of votes cast in the direct primary election, is hereby return elected and declare the winner.”
Aiyedatiwa’s victory was ratified by a special congress on Monday morning in line with the Electoral Act.
Aiyedatiwa, in his acceptance speech, said the participation of other aspirants created so much awareness within and outside the APC.
He said, “But this is not the time to hold grudges against anyone but for all of us to come together to work for the success of our great party to remain in power.
“We will all gain in this party, though at different times, if we keep faith. I salute your courage and keen interest to lead the State towards development. It is your right and you are qualified and worthy members of our party.
“Now, more than ever before, the greatness of Ondo State is what matters the most. I therefore request that we all join hands together in building the future that we all yearn for in Ondo State.”