The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday issued Certificates of Return to Ondo State Governor-elect Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami, following their victory in the November 16 governorship election.
The certificates were presented in Abuja by Prof. Kunle Ajayi, the Supervisory National Commissioner for Ondo State, just four days after INEC declared Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as the election winner.
Aiyedatiwa secured a commanding victory with 366,781 votes, defeating his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 117,845 votes. The APC dominated all 18 local government areas, ensuring Aiyedatiwa’s re-election as the governor of Ondo State, often called the “Sunshine State.”
In his acceptance speech, Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to the people of Ondo for their overwhelming support and vowed to serve them even better in his second term. “Your overwhelming votes across the 18 LGAs have renewed my mandate and entrusted me with the responsibility to deliver more impactful governance,” he said.
The governor-elect also thanked President Bola Tinubu for fostering a fair electoral process and commended INEC for conducting a free, fair, and inclusive election.
While addressing attendees at the ceremony, Prof. Ajayi praised the peaceful conduct of the election and lauded Ondo voters for their commitment to democracy. He emphasized INEC’s dedication to ensuring credible elections nationwide, describing the Ondo governorship election as a testament to that commitment. Ajayi also reminded Aiyedatiwa and his deputy of their duty to uphold democratic principles and deliver good governance.
Prominent figures, including APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and other dignitaries attended the event.
Meanwhile, legal proceedings concerning Aiyedatiwa’s deputy, Dr. Adelami, are ongoing. The Federal High Court in Akure has reserved judgment on a suit filed by the PDP and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, challenging Adelami’s eligibility to contest as deputy governor.
The PDP, represented by lawyer Mr. M. Ndoka (SAN), alleges discrepancies in Dr. Adelami’s academic credentials and claims multiple conflicting names, such as “Adelami Owolabi Jackson” and “Olayide Owolabi Adelami,” render him ineligible.
The opposition is seeking to disqualify both Adelami and the APC governorship candidate from the election. The case was initially filed in Abuja before being transferred to Akure for further hearings.
Justice Toyin Adegoke has reserved judgment, with a date to be communicated to the parties involved.
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