Mimiko’s Labour Party set for Victory as Massive Turnout, Tight Security mark Ondo Governorship Poll
Incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state appear set for victory following impressive outing in results released so far at the polling units across the state in Saturday governorship elections. The Labour Party was ahead in all the polling units where results were announced in the state capital, Akure. The same trend was also reported in the two local government areas in Ondo kingdom where Governor Mimiko hailed from. As at the time of filing this report, supporters of the LP were seen in groups jubilating in Oke Ijebu area of Akure even as voting were yet to be concluded.
Reports from some units in Ondo north senatorial district comprising Akoko and Owo divisions show that the LP was ahead with wide margins in many places although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also posted surprising leads in Ikaram and Irun while the Action Congress (ACN) won in Okeagbe all in the Akoko division. However, ACN governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu was defeated in his polling unit in Owo where he scored 139 votes against Mimiko’s 144. At polling units in Ijapo estate where PDP governorship candidate, Olusola Oke and his running mate,
Saka Lawal have residences, Mimiko’s LP made a clean sweep of over 60% of the votes cast in the area. Specifically at a polling unit near the police station in Ijapo estate, the ACN polled 55 votes against PDP’s 50 and LP’s 169. Results from some wards and polling units in Okitipupa shows that PDP was leading LP narrowly with the ACN trailing behind in distant third position.
By 3pm, voting has been concluded in some poling units while voters patiently await their turn in an election that witnessed massive turn out across the state. In Akure, the state capital, voters were seen in large numbers in most polling centres from 830am. Security presence at the polling units provided the needed assurance for voters who turned out in large numbers for accreditation exercise which ended at about 12 noon. Apart from the police, security was beefed up at polling units by the presence of other security operatives which included men of anti-drug agency; NDLEA, civil defense and other plain clothe security personnel.
The conduct of the election has so far been hitch-free. No serious threats to security have been reported but it is the expectation of the generality of electorate spoken to by our correspondent that the exercise will remain peaceful to the end. Prior to the commencement of voting which was characterized by long queues, electoral officials in some polling units had hectic times attending to large numbers of voters who turned out for accreditation in major towns of Akure, Ondo, Okitipupa, Owo, Ikare and Idanre. Long queues of voters at Febico, Plaza Junction at Ijapo and at Akinjo Street, Oshokoti quarters areas of Akure were reported by our correspondent.
Considering the peaceful and hitch-free nature of the elections despite delay in some units, there are strong indications that the final results could be announced in the early hours of Sunday provided the results from the coastal areas of Ilaje and Ese-odo local governments reach INEC headquarters in Akure on scheduled. Journalist who monitored the exercise across the state are returning to the state capital and expected to gathered at the INEC office located at Alagbaka area of the state capital before midnight.
