Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) has won the 2024 Ondo gubernatorial election held on Saturday, November 16, 2024. Mr. Aiyedatiwa secured his victory with a total of 366,781 votes, surpassing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, who received 117,845 votes, placing him in second position. The governor-elect achieved a majority in all 18 local government areas of the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Aiyedatiwa the victor following the conclusion of results collation on Sunday. In total, there were 508,963 votes cast, which represents approximately 28.96% of the collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). From over 2 million registered voters in the state, 1,757,205 PVCs were collected, while 11,886 votes were rejected. Approximately 25% of registered voters participated in the election, raising concerns about voter engagement not only in Ondo state but across the country, as similar trends have been noted in past elections.
Chieftains of the APC have been sending their congratulations to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Among them is Ekiti State Governor Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, who characterized the election victory as a reflection of the people’s trust in the APC-led government. He urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to be gracious in his victory by extending outreach to all his opponents for a more inclusive administration.
The governor-elect in his response to the resounding victory promised to run an all-inclusive government and commended all stakeholders in the election for a job well done. Mr Aiyedatiwa later dedicated the victory to God and his late former boss, Late Rotimi Akeredolu.
In his words, “we will continue to prioritise the welfare of our people, foster economic growth, and ensure that our state remains a beacon of hope and prosperity for generations to come.”
