Okitipupa: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Prof. Dayo Faduyile of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Ondo South Senatorial District by-election conducted on Saturday. INEC Returning Officer, Prof Gbenga Solomon-Ibileye, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, announced the results on Sunday at the collation centre in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Solomon-Ibileye declared that Faduyile won the election by securing the highest votes totaling 68,474. Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) followed in second place with 1,411 votes, while Adesanya Olaoluwa of Action People’s Party (APP) and Clement Funso-Nejo of Boot Party (BP) received 213 and 70 votes, respectively. The Returning Officer noted that the total votes cast were 70,770, with 602 votes rejected.
Mr. Mutiu Agboke, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, commented on the by-election, stating that it served as a testing ground for the 2027 general election. Agboke mentioned that any minor issues observed would aid the commission in preparing for future elections. He emphasized that the election results truly reflected the people’s voice and expressed relief that all INEC staff who traveled to riverine areas returned safely without any negative incidents reported.
The election took place across six local government areas: Okitipupa, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Irele, Odigbo, and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo. The by-election was organized following the appointment of Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.