Olumide Lawal
Ondo state All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, has been declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the just concluded gubernatorial poll in the state.
Akeredolu, who scored 244, 842 of the 580, 887 votes cast to emerge as winner of the election, defeating his closest rivals, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Eyitayo Jegede and Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate, Olusola Oke who both pulled 150, 380 and 126, 889 votes respectively.
Announcing Akeredolu as winner of the poll at about 1pm, INEC Chief Returning Officer (CRO), Prof. Abdulganiy Ambali, said that the APC candidate has fulfilled all requirements stated by the country’s electoral act.
Meanwhile, Akeredolu in his acceptance message assured residents that his administration would focus on rural development and employment creation.
He described his victory as a call to rescue Ondo state and reverse its fortunes.
Akeredolu noted that casting their votes for him was a message from residents that they wanted a better life and would ensure that the growth they craved for is attained before 2020.
He said, “Today, Change has come. I hereby make a solemn pledge that this collective mandate shall address all issues with keen determination. The welfare of our people alone shall be the directive policy of the government.
“I shall in few months be saddled with the task of providing responsible leadership, a leadership that would take our people from poverty and stagnation to productivity and prosperity, from pains and lamentation to joy and laughter. It is the sole reason you have voted for me and by the grace of God I will not fail you.”
The governor-elect who commended Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and the party chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, but omitted the name of national leader of APC, Bola Tinubu; indicating the differences between both personalities.
