The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uploaded 98% of the results from Saturday’s Ondo State governorship election on its Result Viewing Portal.
As of 10:55 pm, results from 3,875 out of 3,933 polling units had been transmitted, paving the way for the collation of results.
The election was marred by widespread vote-buying, with party loyalists distributing money to voters across the state. Despite heavy security measures, incidents of voter inducement were reported in several areas, including Akure, Irele, and Idanre local government areas.
Reports indicate that politicians paid as much as N15,000 per vote in some areas, while others paid as low as N5,000. Voters were seen collecting money from party agents, and in some cases, fighting over the payments. A resident in Irele justified her decision to collect money, saying “d’ibo ko sebe” (vote and cook a pot of soup), highlighting the economic hardships driving voters to accept bribes.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had warned against vote-buying, but its officials stationed in key areas reported instances of voter inducement. A suspected vote buyer was arrested at Ward 4, Polling Unit 007, outside St Stephen’s Primary School in Akure.
The APC candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, commended INEC officials for arriving early at polling units and expressed optimism about winning the election. His opponent, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, alleged that INEC was biased and that the election was being compromised.
Ajayi also criticized the slow response of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, saying it took over 10 minutes to accredit him. “The system is not perfect… If INEC cannot successfully organize an election in just one state, then you must know that we are running into anarchy in Nigeria,” he stated.
The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that reports of arrests made during the election were being collated. The commission had warned both vote buyers and sellers to face legal consequences.
As the results continue to trickle in, the people of Ondo State await the announcement of the winner.
