The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the winner of all 18 chairmanship and 203 councillorship seats in the Ondo State Local Government election held on Saturday January 18, 2025.
Despite controversy surrounding the outcome in Ajowa/Gedegede/Igasi-Akoko Ward 5 of Akoko North West Local Government. The Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Dr. Joseph Aremo, announced the results at the commission’s headquarters in Akure, stating that the election was contested by 12 political parties, with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) officially withdrawing 48 hours before the polls.
However, reports from Ajowa Ward 5 indicated that the PDP candidate, Hon. Lateef Salami, had secured a victory with 1,494 votes against APC’s Toye Ajiboye, who polled 1,271 votes. Despite these figures, ODIEC has refused to recognize Salami’s win, instead declaring the APC candidate as the official winner.
The decision has sparked outrage among PDP supporters, who have accused ODIEC of bias and electoral malpractice. Party loyalists in Ajowa Ward 5 have insisted that the recorded figures show PDP’s clear victory and are calling for justice.
“We have the results, and they show that Hon. Salami won fair and square. ODIEC must do the right thing and uphold the will of the people,” a PDP stakeholder stated.
The decision has sparked outrage among PDP supporters, who have accused ODIEC of bias and electoral malpractice. Party loyalists in Ajowa Ward 5 have insisted that the recorded figures show PDP’s clear victory and are calling for justice.
“We have the results, and they show that Hon. Salami won fair and square. ODIEC must do the right thing and uphold the will of the people,” a PDP stakeholder stated.
Meanwhile, APC members have gathered at the ODIEC headquarters in Akure for the official presentation of certificates of return to the chairmen-elect, while the councillors-elect are set to receive theirs on Tuesday.
