In a surprising turn of events, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Lateef Salami, has emerged victorious in the Ondo State Local Government Election for Ajowa/Gedegede/Igasi-Akoko Ward 5. Hon. Salami secured 1,494 votes to defeat his closest rival, Toye Ajiboye of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 1,271 votes.
The victory came against the backdrop of controversy surrounding the PDP’s participation in the election. Earlier in the week, the party’s State Secretary, Barr. Olujimi, announced the withdrawal of the PDP from the electoral process, citing alleged irregularities and lack of transparency by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).
However, the announcement was met with resistance from the party’s candidates, including Hon. Salami, who vowed to remain in the race. The candidates accused the party’s leadership of acting unilaterally without proper consultation and reaffirmed their commitment to the election just 72 hours before voting commenced.
Speaking after his declaration as the winner, Hon. Salami expressed gratitude to his supporters and pledged to prioritize grassroots development in the ward. “This victory is for the people. It is a call to service, and I will do everything within my power to ensure that Ajowa, Gedegede, and Igasi-Akoko communities witness significant progress,” he said.
Meanwhile, the APC candidate, Toye Ajiboye, has yet to react to the outcome of the election. Party insiders.
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