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I Wish Akeredolu Was Present During My Declaration, Says Emotional Aiyedatiwa

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, still basking in the euphoria of his re-election for a fresh four-year tenure in office, paid tribute to his late principal, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Akeredolu, former Ondo governor, died last year in December after a protracted prostrate cancer and was succeeded by Aiyedatiwa.

Aiyedatiwa, candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared poll winner on Sunday after he beat his close rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the governor dedicated his victory to the late governor, wishing his late principal was present during his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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“The Lord gives and takes but today he is no more,” the governor said in an emotional-laden voice.

“How I wish he was present in that banquet hall when I was declared in the company of other brother governors. That would have been really good but God knows better.”

Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor, polled 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival and a former deputy governor of the state Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who raked in 117,845 votes.

Following his victory at the polls, congratulatory messages have been pouring in for the governor who has secured his stay at the Ondo State Government House for the next four years.

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Among those that have hailed the governor’s achievement is President Bola Tinubu, who also called on aggrieved candidates of other parties to seek redress in court.

“The President urges candidates dissatisfied with the outcome of the election to explore the opportunities provided by the judicial system to seek redress on areas of conflict,” presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement.

Tinubu expressed happiness with the outcome of the exercise and congratulated the electoral body, police and other security agencies for their roles in the electoral body.

The President is satisfied with “Aiyedatiwa and other candidates of the 17 political parties for the maturity and sense of purpose demonstrated during the campaigns and the election, attributing the success of the polls to the civility in the state.

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“President Tinubu believes the Ondo State election was another litmus test of the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission, affirming that the electoral body justified the confidence of the people with early preparations, deployment of staff and materials, and handling of the electoral process.”

Also, the APC and some governors including Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) among others have rejoiced with Aiyedatiwa.

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