#OndoDecides2024: APC takes commanding lead

As of 6:18 p.m., a review of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal indicates that over 90% of the polling unit results from Saturday’s Ondo State governorship election have been successfully uploaded. The All Progressives Congress, APC, is currently leading the poll with a very large margin, according to the results made available so far.

The timely upload of these results is critical to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process. This step ensures transparency and demonstrates the commission’s commitment to upholding the democratic principles of free, fair, and credible elections.

This significant progress by INEC reflects its efforts to improve transparency by allowing voters, observers, and stakeholders to access real-time results from the polling units. The latest update to the portal was recorded at 6:18 p.m., signaling a consistent effort to make the results accessible promptly.

In a significant development, APC has won all polling units in Etikan Ward, Ilaje LGA, Ondo State. Below are the results for the 2024 gubernatorial election from the ward:

ONDO 2024 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION RESULTS ETIKAN WARD, ILAJE LGA

UNIT 001APC : 80PDP : 14

UNIT 002APC : 141PDP : 11

UNIT 003APC : 138PDP : 24

UNIT 004APC : 114PDP : 24

UNIT 005APC : 154PDP : 25

UNIT 006APC : 212PDP : 48

UNIT 007APC : 143PDP : 0

UNIT 008APC : 212PDP : 02

UNIT 009APC : 171PDP : 11

UNIT 010APC : 178PDP : 06

UNIT 011APC : 139PDP : 10

UNIT 012APC : 241PDP : 27

UNIT 013APC : 127PDP : 37

TOTALAPC : 2050PDP : 239

Despite the apparent lead by the APC, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ajayi Agboola, has voiced dissatisfaction with the conduct of the election. He expressed serious concerns about the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the electoral exercise.

Ajayi Agboola, the former deputy governor, alleged that the slow pace of the election process was deliberate and aimed at rigging the election. After casting his vote, he stated: “The system is not perfect, things are not working. It took them more than 10 minutes to capture me, who is the candidate of the PDP here. All of us are here. You can see the drama. There are a lot of complaints here and there.”

The PDP candidate further criticized INEC’s handling of the election, stating: “If INEC cannot successfully organise an election in one state, then you must know that we are running into anarchy. I think it’s deliberate on the part of INEC and the part of the REC. We have said severally that we don’t trust Barr. Oluwatoyin Babalola (REC). That this woman cannot be fair.”

Ajayi also alleged widespread vote buying and the malfunctioning of the BVAS devices in multiple locations. He described the exercise as “a very shameful” one and called on Nigerians to hold the chairman of the electoral commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, accountable. He further stated: “If you cannot do the job, please just honourably resign. This is embarrassing. The election is totally compromised.”

The PDP candidate’s statements highlight the dissatisfaction of opposition parties with the process and raise questions about the challenges faced in ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria.