President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with Rotimi Akeredolu on his re-election as Governor of Ondo State for another four-year term.
In a congratulatory message by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Sunday, Buhari lauded the resounding victory of the governor at the election held on Saturday.
He believed that the votes garnered “show that one good turn surely deserves another.”
The president thanked the people of Ondo State for keeping faith with their governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and reelecting Akeredolu for another term.
He noted that “the people know the person and party that truly serves them, and have spoken in clear voice and unmistakable terms.”
Buhari appreciated the electorate in the state for comporting themselves decently and in order, and for exhibiting conduct that indicates that the country is making progress in its electoral behaviour.
He also gave kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for organising credible, free and fair election, and to security agencies which ensured that orderliness was enthroned and maintained.
The president urged Akeredolu to be humble and magnanimous in victory, and serve the people of Ondo State even better than how he did in the first term.
”When you serve with heart and might, the people respond in like manner, and we can easily get to where we are headed as a country,” he added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Sunday declared Akeredolu as the winner of the governorship election.
Prof. Abel Olayinka, the Returning Officer of INEC, who is also the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), said that Akeredolu got 292,830 votes to defeat Eyitayo Jegede of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 195,791 votes, while Ajayi Agboola of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) got 69,127 votes.
Also, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, congratulated Akeredolu, saying the triumph was well-deserved and heartwarming.
He noted that the election was a referendum on the stewardship of Akeredolu in the last four years and that the governor passed the examination in flying colours.
Lawan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ola Awoniyi, in a Abuja on Sunday, also commended the people of Ondo State for their peaceful conduct at the polls.
He said peaceful conduct by the peoples has demonstrated their confidence in the country’s democratic process.
He also thanked the Ondo people for their consistency in identifying with progressive platforms now ably represented by the APC.
“By the outcome of this election, the people of Ondo State have spoken in a loud and unambiguous voice that the APC offers the best platform for the pursuit of their development goals and political aspirations.
“The electoral victory in Ondo State is a re-affirmation of the people’s faith in the APC government and the capacity of Governor Akeredolu to continue the transformation of the state by consolidating on his achievements and opening new frontiers of development in the Sunshine State,” Lawan says.
The Senate President enjoined the Governor not to deviate from the path that has taken him to a fresh mandate from his people.
He also urged him to continue to implement APC’s progressive programmes for the benefit of all Ondo people.
Lawan called on other contestants in the election to join hands with the winner in working for the common good of Ondo people.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also congratulated his Ondo State counterpart on his victory, describing it as well deserved.
Sanwo-Olu, who is the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Campaign Council for Ondo State Governorship election, said Akeredolu’s success in the election is a validation of people’s acceptance of his administration, having impacted positively in their lives during his first term in office.
Speaking at Akeredolu’s residence in Owo on Sunday shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Akeredolu and his running mate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as governor-elect and deputy governor-elect respectively, he said the people of Ondo State deserve commendation for coming out in large numbers to perform their civic responsibility and for defying all odds to vote for APC-led administration in the State.
Sanwo-Olu said Akeredolu’s victory is a clear manifestation that the APC remains the party of choice for Nigerians, stressing that the party will continue to work in the best interest of
Nigerians.
He said: “I must congratulate my brother, Governor Akeredolu for being victorious in last Saturday’s election. His victory across the state is a confirmation of the trust and belief of the people in the APC led administration in Ondo State, having benefitted immensely from the various people oriented programmes of his administration.
“The victory is for all of us and for the entire leadership of our party. It is a team work; it is not one person, it is a whole team that came together. And what it means is that when we all work together as a team, we win together.
“The real winners at the end of the day are citizens of Ondo State because indeed they have re-elected a “talk and do” governor. The victory is deserving.
“Looking at the performance of Governor Akeredolu in Ondo State, it is clear to me that Ondo people know what is right. And they have done what is right by giving him an opportunity to continue his good work.
“Our victory in Ondo State is an assurance to us that we are doing something right. We know there are areas of improvement and we are determined to ensure that we give Nigerians the best they deserve.”
The Governor also commended Buhari for creating a level-playing ground for conduct of the election, adding that the President deserves commendation for deepening democracy and electoral process in Nigeria, considering the success recorded in the Ondo governorship election as well as last month’s gubernatorial poll in Edo State.
“I appreciate the leader of our party, President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the caretaker chairman of our party, the Governor of Yobe State, my colleagues and other APC leaders, especially members of the National Campaign Council for working tirelessly for the victory of our party in the Ondo State governorship poll.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) also applauded the people of Ondo State for coming out enmasse to re-elect Akeredolu.
The party in a statement by Mr Yekini Nabena, its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, on Sunday in Abuja, said it would continue to ensure that the will of the people prevailed at all elections.
“As a party, we thank the Ondo State electorate for voting for good governance, industrialisation, security, empowerment and general welfare of the state.
“We will continue to advocate for and support safe, free and credible elections that guarantee that valid votes count and the people’s will prevail,” he said.
Nabena thanked Buhari as leader of the party and Governor Mai Mala Buni as Chairman of its Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee for supporting Akeredolu, the party’s governorship candidate at the election.
“We also recognise and appreciate the tireless efforts of the Ondo State APC Reconciliation Committee chaired by the Governor of Niger State Abubakar Bello and the APC Ondo State Governorship National Campaign Council chaired by the Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“Gov. Akeredolu’s re-election is indeed testament to the inclusiveness, genuine reconciliation and peace the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker Committee has ensured among party ranks in Ondo and other chapters of the party in general,” Nabena said.
The APC spokesman added that there was no vanquished now that the Ondo State governorship election was concluded and the people had decided.
He said what was needed now, was the general support for Akeredolu as he continued his work to return the state to its deserved and progressive standing among states in the country.
Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State also congratulated Akeredolu, saying his victory did not come as a surprise.
Oyetola, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, on Sunday in Osogbo, described Akeredolu’s victory as sweet and well deserved.
The governor is a member of the National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairman, Contact and Mobilisation for Ondo Governorship National Campaign Council.
He also congratulated Buhari, national leaders of the party, members and supporters of the party on the electoral victory.
Oyetola said the outcome of the election was a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the people of Ondo.
He added that the sterling performance and achievements of Akeredolu in his first term also informed the decision of Ondo electorate to re-elect him for another term.
Oyetola also expressed confidence that Akeredolu would continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
“I heartily congratulate Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on his well-deserved re-election as Governor of Ondo State.
“I also congratulate Mr President, the National Caretaker Committee, and other leaders of our great party including Baba Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, members and supporters of the APC, on this sweet victory at the just- concluded Ondo State governorship election.
“This victory is a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the people of Ondo.
“It is apparent that Gov. Akeredolu’s sterling performance and achievements in his first tenure informed the decision of Ondo people to vote him for another term.
“I’m confident that Governor Akeredolu will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Ondo State,” Oyetola said.
The governor also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies, political parties and their candidates and the people of Ondo for the peaceful and successful conduct of the election.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, said Akeredolu’s electoral victory was an attestation to the fact the electorate would always reward a performing leader and administration with their votes.
Fayemi also commended the people of Ondo State for their peaceful conduct at the poll, a situation which he said greatly reduced the pre-election tension in the state in addition to crippling the antics of purveyors of violence.
The Ekiti State Governor also congratulated the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for proper coordination.
He also lauded the leaders of the party in Ondo State for closing ranks ahead of the election and working together to achieve victory for the party.
The Ondo State experience, he says, should be a wake- up call for the party that effective coordination and sincerity of purpose are necessary for electoral victory.
“It is a new day in Ondo State. Congratulations to my brother Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and a bigger congratulations to the APC members in the state. The biggest applause, however, goes to the good people of Ondo State for ensuring the election was held in an atmosphere devoid of rancour, violence and blood-letting as many had predicted.
“It is heart-warming to see the electorate reward Governor Akeredolu’s good performance in terms of industrialisation and infrastructure development of the state among others with electoral victory.
“To whom much is given, much should be expected. I have no doubt that the good people of Ondo State would witness a greater level of socio-economic, industrial and infrastructure development in Governor Akeredolu’s second term.
Fayemi urged the APC leadership to build on the electoral success in Ondo State for future elections.
“It is a wake-up call that with a laser beam focus, proper planning, unity and sincerity of purpose, elections are almost always winnable. It is hoped that the various bye elections coming up at the end of the month will benefit from this renewed vigour and focus in our party”, Fayemi added.
