Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Dayo Faduyile, winner of the Ondo South Senatorial District by-election conducted on Saturday.
Faduyile secured 68,474 votes to emerge victorious in the poll held across six local government areas of the district, according to results announced on Sunday at the collation centre in Okitipupa.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Gbenga Solomon-Ibileye, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, said Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement came second with 1,411 votes.
Other candidates in the race were Adesanya Olaoluwa of the Action People’s Party, who polled 213 votes, and Clement Funso-Nejo of the Boot Party, who received 70 votes.
Solomon-Ibileye said a total of 70,770 votes were cast in the election, while 602 ballots were rejected.
The by-election was conducted in Okitipupa, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Irele, Odigbo, and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo local government areas to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of former senator, Jimoh Ibrahim, as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Faduyile, a former National President of the Nigerian Medical Association and Special Adviser on Health Matters to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, won by a wide margin across the senatorial district.
Speaking after the exercise, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, described the by-election as a useful preparation for the 2027 general election.
Agboke said the commission recorded only minor challenges during the poll and noted that all personnel deployed, including those assigned to riverine communities, returned safely.
“The results of the election reflected the people’s voice, and thank God that all INEC staff who went to the riverine came back safely and no negative report anywhere,” he said.
