The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Gov. Dapo Abiodun, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of Saturday’s governorship polls in Ogun State.
The state Returning Officer for the governorship poll, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, announced in Abeokuta at about 6:17pm on Sunday that Abiodun scored a total of 276,298 votes to clinch victory.
Adebowale, who is Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, explained that Abiodun beat his closest rival, Mr Oladipupo Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) who came second with 262, 382 votes.
He said that the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Biyi Otegbeye came third with 94,754 votes
A breakdown of the results on local government basis as announced by local government collation officers showed that Abiodun won in 12 council areas while Adebutu won in eight council areas out of 20 local governments in the state.
The councils won by Abiodun are Ijebu-Ode , Odeda, Egbado North, Egbado South, Ewekoro, Ijebu North, Abeokuta North and Ipokia,
Others are Imeko Afon, Ado Odo Ota, Obafemi Owode and Ifo.
Adebutu won in Sagamu, Abeokuta South, Odogbolu , Ikenne , Ijebu North East, Ijebu East, Ogun Waterside and Remo North.
According to Adebowale , the total number of registered voters was
2 ,688,305 while the total number of accredited voters was 666, 406.
He said that the number of valid votes was 645, 133 while 18,835 votes were rejected.
Adebowale added that the total number of votes cast was 663, 968.
” That Abiodun Adedapo Oluseun of APC , having satisfied with the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected ,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PDP has, however, called for a re-run election in polling units where elections were cancelled.
The party submitted a petition to INEC through its state collation agent, Sunkanmi Olajide.
The party accused the APC of using thugs to disrupt elections in some polling units in the state, claiming that the total number of cancelled votes was higher than the margin of victory.
“You will recall that the Commission is aware of the level of thuggery planned and orchestrated by the All Progressive Congress to unleash mayhem in some polling units across the state to destabilize innocent voters from freely exercising their voting rights as a result of planned and well-executed action,” the PDP said.