By Mayowa Olumuyiwa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared winners in all the 18 local government areas in Ondo State.
A total of seven political parties participated in the exercise on Saturday.
Announcing the election results on Sunday afternoon, Chairman of Ondo Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Prof. Yomi Dinakin, said there was no contest in five local governments.
Dinakin, who declared APC candidates winner of the elections in the five local government areas, said it was in line with the electoral act.
He stated that he acted within the law which stipulates that where there are no contests, any candidate validly nominated should be declared the winner.
He listed the five local governments to include Akoko North-East where Mr Omojola Asimiyu emerged; Ose LG, Dennis Adekunle; Ifedore LG, Alex Akinyemi Oladimeji; Odigbo LGA, Akinsurojo Margret and Irele LG, Segun Ajimatokin.
Other local governments where the APC won were Ese-Odo where Folawole Sipasi polled 29,360. In Akoko South East, the APC candidate, Paul Adorujoye, scored 14,174 votes.
Barr. Gbenga Olaniyi garnered 24,238 votes in Akure South; Olamigoke Olatuwase got 40,009 votes in Ilaje while Akisuroje Temitayo got 13,250 votes in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo.
In Okitipupa, the APC candidate, Akinrinwa Igbekele, got 34,721 votes; Akinsulire Ebenezer got 54,292 to win in Ondo West; Chief Adegbegi Samuel garnered 48,742 to win in Owo while Bankole Ogbesetoye got 10,541 votes to win in Akure North.
As at 6 pm on Sunday, KaftanPost correspondent gathered that the four outstanding local governments results were being expected at Akoko North West, Idanre Akoko South West and Ondo East.
Prof. Dinakin, however, said results of the remaining four local governments would be announced by 7pm after which certificates of return would be presented to the winners.
Public expectations were palpable that the remaining Local governments were likely won by the opposition parties.
It was, however, a new twist when it was later announced that the remaining four LGAs recorded APC as winners.
Meanwhile, there were vast allegations by members of the participating opposition parties that the incumbent APC administration in the state had set modalities to win the election by every means possible including violence.
Some participating electorate were of the opinion that a few wards in areas like Ondo West LGAs, Akure South and Akure North, among others where features like hijacked ballot box, intimidation of voters, e.t.c. took place.
It would be recalled that the few days leading up to the election was characterised with attacks and counter-attacks on some key players in some of the areas, namely APC versus SDP in Idanre local government where scores were wounded and killed.
A similar occurrence happened in Ondo West and East constituency where lots of cars belonging to the opposition ADC were smashed and badly damaged during a peaceful campaign.
Other commentators opined that the unlawful disregard of the umpire body, ODIEC, to adhere to laid down rules guiding the collation and announcements of results was a big factor to justify serious malpractice in the election. It would be recalled that the umpire body never collated the results at the polling units as required but instead took the ballot boxes to its headquarters in Akure, the state capital. This singular step slowed down the time of announcing the final verdicts.
All these and many more were the complaints made about how marred the elections went.
