CSO Applaud INEC for Successful Ondo Election, Hail High Voters Participation
Praises Hon. Olumuyiwa Adu for his Contribution
On Monday, November 18, 2024, the Coalition of Accredited INEC Election Observers hosted a post-election briefing at the Royal Bird Resort in Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State. The purpose of the meeting was to share their insights and observations from the recent elections in the Sunshine State.
The group, consisting of 45 observers out of 115 accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was led by Engr. Muhammad Al-Jameel Hashidu, an experienced international election monitor with decades of expertise, and Dr. Isaac Iduma, the coalition’s Secretary.
During the briefing, the observers addressed a range of topics, including compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022, and took questions from various media outlets.
Engr. Hashidu commended INEC for the smooth conduct of the election, noting that there were no significant issues or disruptions. INEC staff were on the ground early, and polling stations opened promptly at 8:30 a.m. in most locations, with voters already lined up and ready to cast their ballots.
Observers from key areas such as Odigbo, Idanre, Owo, Arigidi, Ikare, Ajowa, and Ondo town reported a high level of enthusiasm among voters, with many eagerly fulfilling their civic duties.
However, the observers noted that while 17 political parties were registered for the gubernatorial race, only two of the major parties had polling agents at all polling units. Representatives of other parties were notably absent from many locations.
The security situation during the election was described as excellent. Security personnel were present at every polling unit and worked effectively to maintain order and ensure the safety of voters, even though vehicle movement restrictions were implemented as early as 7:00 a.m. to secure the election environment.
The coalition expressed its appreciation to all stakeholders involved in the election’s success and expressed hopes that the peaceful atmosphere observed in Ondo would be replicated in future elections nationwide.
Hon. Sylvester Olumuyiwa Adu, one of the local politicians interviewed during the review, attributed the peaceful nature of the election to divine intervention. “Ondo State is rich in resources, and it’s essential that we all contribute to realizing its full potential,” he stated. “I’m pleased that the election went smoothly and that the people of Ondo participated wholeheartedly.”
Following a thorough review of the results from the state’s 3,933 polling units, 203 wards, and 18 local government areas, the coalition issued a statement of confidence in the electoral process. The official results, announced by Professor Olayemi Akinwunmi, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja and INEC’s Returning Officer, declared Mr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner with 366,781 votes, surpassing Mr. Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 117,845 votes.
