President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday congratulated Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, on his re-election as Governor of Ondo State for another four-year term.
In a statement by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Femi Adesina, President Buhari lauded the resounding victory of the Governor at the election held on Saturday, October 10, 2020, noting that the votes garnered “show that one good turn surely deserves another.”
Governor Akeredolu, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) won in 15 of the 18 Local Government Areas of the State, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Eyitayo Jegede won in three.
Akeredolu, of the All Progressives Congress, got 292,830 votes, while Jegede of PDP and Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party came second and third in the election with 195,791 and 68,727 votes, respectively.
Based on the votes secured, the Chief Returning Officer for the election, Professor Idowu Olayinka, returned Akeredolu as the Governor-elect on Sunday at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Akure, which doubles as the final collation centre.
“Having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes, I hereby declare Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu of the APC as the winner, and he is hereby returned elected,” Professor Olayinka declared said.
The President thanked the people of Ondo State for keeping faith with their Governor, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that “the people know the person and party that truly serves them, and have spoken in clear voice and unmistakable terms.”
President Buhari appreciates the electorate in Ondo State for comporting themselves decently and in order, and for exhibiting conduct that indicates that the country is making progress in its electoral behavior.
He also gives kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for organizing credible, free and fair election, and to security agencies which ensured that orderliness was enthroned and maintained.
The President urges Gov Akeredolu to be humble and magnanimous in victory, and serve the people of Ondo State even better than how he did in the first term, noting: “when you serve with heart and might, the people respond in like manner, and we can easily get to where we are headed as a country.”
