By Ayo Kehinde
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has further strengthened its political dominance in Ondo State after its candidate, Professor Dayo Faduyile, secured a decisive victory in Saturday’s Ondo South Senatorial District bye-election, defeating candidates of opposition parties by a wide margin across the district’s six local government areas.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared Faduyile winner on Sunday after the collation of results at the election centre in Okitipupa, headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area.
INEC Returning Officer, Professor Gbenga Solomon-Ibileye, Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, announced that Faduyile polled 68,474 votes to emerge winner of the keenly contested senatorial election.
According to the official result announced by INEC, Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) finished in a distant second position after polling 1,411 votes.
Other candidates recorded significantly lower figures, with Adesanya Olaoluwa of the Action People’s Party (APP) scoring 213 votes, while Clement Funso-Nejo of the Boot Party (BP) garnered 70 votes.
INEC disclosed that the total number of votes cast during the exercise stood at 70,770, while 602 votes were rejected after collation.
Speaking shortly after the declaration of results, Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mutiu Agboke, described the exercise as a critical operational test for future elections, particularly preparations toward the 2027 general elections.
Agboke noted that although a few operational challenges were encountered during the conduct of the poll, the lessons learned would help the commission improve future electoral processes. He expressed satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the exercise and commended electoral officers deployed to difficult terrains, especially riverine communities within the senatorial district.
“The results of the election reflected the people’s voice and thank God that all INEC staff who went to the riverine areas came back safely and there was no negative report anywhere,” Agboke said.
The bye-election was conducted across six local government areas that make up Ondo South Senatorial District, including Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ilaje Local Government Area, Ese Odo Local Government Area, Irele Local Government Area, Odigbo Local Government Area, and Ile Oluji Oke-Igbo Local Government Area.
The election became necessary following the appointment of former senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, thereby creating a vacancy in the district’s representation in the Senate.
