Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the Ondo State governorship election, which saw Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) win by a landslide.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Buhari said the election result clearly reflected the confidence voters have in both the APC and Governor Aiyedatiwa. He emphasized that the voters’ decision, expressed through the ballot, should be respected by all stakeholders.
Buhari noted that the election outcome demonstrated the resilience of Nigeria’s democracy, asserting that it remains robust and cannot be easily undermined, even in a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.
The former president also acknowledged that the victory presents a challenge for Governor Aiyedatiwa, urging him to implement policies that will drive economic growth, address high unemployment and inflation, and advance welfare programs to improve the lives of the people.
Buhari commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and law enforcement agencies for their efforts in addressing shortcomings observed in previous elections. He also wished Governor Aiyedatiwa and his team a successful tenure.
The Returning Officer for the election, Olayemi Akinwumi, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, declared Aiyedatiwa the winner on Sunday, securing his continued stay at the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure.
Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor, garnered 366,781 votes to defeat his closest competitor, Ajayi Agboola, the former deputy governor of Ondo State, who ran under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Agboola received 117,845 votes, more than half of what Aiyedatiwa secured.
