The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented certificates of return to the winner of Saturday's gubernatorial election in Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and his deputy, Olayide Adelami.
The National Commissioner of the commission for Ondo State, Kunle Ajayi, presented the certificates at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was accompanied by the party's national president, Abdullahi Ganduje; Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and other members of the party.
Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor, was declared winner of the election after polling 366,781 votes to defeat Agboola Ajayi of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 117,845.
The returning officer for the election, Olayemi Akinyemi, a professor and vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja, announced the result in Akure on Sunday.
Election observers have judged the elections to be peaceful and credible and praised the electoral commission for improving logistics.
The PDP, however, rejected the result and described the elections as a farce.
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Ajayi also vowed to challenge the outcome of the vote.
Appreciation
Shortly after receiving the certificate, Aiyedatiwa expressed his gratitude to the people of Ondo State.
“The mandate you just renewed through your huge votes in 18 LGAs where we won convincingly has put the burden on me to serve you better than before,” he said.
He was sworn in as governor of the state last December, shortly after the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who succumbed to a prolonged illness.
Ganduje said APC's victory in the elections is a victory for democracy. He said this shows that “democracy is here to stay in Nigeria.”
“Since 1999 we have enjoyed democracy and we have always perfected it so that it is fair, free and decent to the extent that what counts is the vote of the people,” he said, adding that democracy will continue to be refined.