Ondo: Go to court if you’re unsatisfied with outcome of election – Tinubu tells PDP, ZLP, others
Nigerian President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the oppositions in the off-cycle election to seek redress.
President, while congratulating Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election held on Saturday, also commended the peaceful conduct of the process.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu, while extending his congratulations to other candidates of the 17 political parties for the maturity and sense of purpose demonstrated during the campaigns and the election, attributing the success of the polls to the civility in the state, enjoining political actors to allow their orderly conduct permeate the post-election activities and processes.
The statement read, “Those dissatisfied with the outcome of the election can explore the opportunities provided by the judicial system to seek redress on areas of conflict.”
“President Tinubu believes the Ondo State election was another litmus test of the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission, affirming that the electoral body justified the confidence of the people with early preparations, deployment of staff and materials, and handling of the electoral process.”
The President also commended INEC for the efficiency of uploading more than 98 per cent of results on the same day of the election, while appreciating the Nigerian Police Force, National Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Youth Service Corps, the military and other security outfits for their professionalism in maintaining peace and order.
Back story
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday afternoon, declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa winner of Saturday’s off-cycle election in Ondo State.
The Returning Officer for the election Olayemi Akinwumi, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State made the official declaration to extend the governor’s stay at the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure.
Aiyedatiwa polled 366,781 votes to defeat his arch-rival and former deputy governor of the state Ajayi Agboola, who flew the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag. He scored 117,845 votes, more than twice lower than the APC candidate.
Who is Aiyedatiwa, a deputy governor who becomes governor after the demise of his boss?
Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa (born 12 January 1965) is a Nigerian businessman and politician who has served as governor of Ondo State since 2023. He previously served as deputy governor of Ondo State from 2021 to 2023 under Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. He is a former commissioner of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
On 13 December 2023, Aiyedatiwa became acting governor following the departure of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on medical leave. He had previously served as acting governor from June to September 2023 when Akeredolu was on medical leave.
Early life
Aiyedatiwa was born on 12 January 1965, he hails from Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Lucky had his Primary education at Saint Peter’s UNA (now FAC) Primary School, Obe Nla/Obe Adun in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State between 1970 and 1976. He had his secondary education at Ikosi High School, Ketu, Lagos, in 1982. In 1986, he obtained a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Government from Lagos State College of Education (now Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education), Ijanikin, Lagos, he later attended the University of Ibadan for Advanced Diploma in Business Administration in the year 2001. He became an alumnus of Lagos Business School – Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos where he obtained Post Graduate Certification in Chief Executive Education (CEP) in Business Management in 2009. In 2013, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
He worked as an Inventory/Store Officer at Scoa Assembly Plant Plc. Apapa, Lagos, between 1982 and 1983. In 1987 he was Assistant Head Teacher at Reliance International Schools, Ijokodo, Ibadan. He became a Marketing Officer at Universal Pharmaceutical Supply Co. Ltd, Ikeja, Lagos in the year 1990. In 1992, he was an Assistant Investment Analyst. Global Trust Limited, Gbagada, Lagos, he was General Merchandise Manager, Biz Mart Nigeria Limited, Lagos Island, Lagos, 1994.
He is the MD/CEO of Blue Wall Group of Companies[6] which he established in 1996 which includes; Blue Wall Nigeria Ltd, a Trading Company, Blue Wall BDC Nigeria Ltd,[7] a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licensed foreign exchange trading company and Blue Wall Safety Travels and Tours,[8] an IATA licensed Travel Agency and Logistic Company.
Aiyedatiwa’s political career
He joined active politics in 2011 as a card-carrying member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later merged with other political parties and became All Progressive Congress (APC). He was one of the National Delegates from Ondo State at the All Progressive Congress (APC) National Convention in Abuja in 2014. He contested for the federal House of Representatives for the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly General Election.
Niger Delta Development Commission
Aiyedatiwa served as the federal commissioner who represented Ondo State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission from 2018 to 2019.
He was selected as the running mate of the governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu in the 2020 Ondo State gubernatorial election.
On 11 October 2020, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa were elected governor and deputy governor of Ondo State as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
On 25 February 2021, they were sworn into office as governor and deputy governor of Ondo State respectively.
Aiyedatiwa became acting governor of Ondo State on 13 December 2023, as Akeredolu left for end-stage leukaemia treatment.[15] He was previously acting governor from June to September 2023 when Akeredolu was on medical leave.
On 27 December 2023, Akeredolu died and Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as governor.
