Agboola Ajayi, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ondo governorship election, emerged victorious at his polling unit, Apoi Ward II, Unit 004, in Kiribo, Ese Odo Local Government Area.

Ajayi secured 194 votes, significantly outpacing his closest rival, incumbent Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 3 votes.

Voting Amid Tight Security

The former deputy governor cast his vote alongside his wife under tight security, which included personnel from the Nigerian Police and Civil Defence Corps.

The couple arrived at the polling booth around 10:36 am and were prioritized in the voting process. They were accredited shortly after at 10:45 am and left the polling unit in their black Jeep after interacting briefly with other voters.

Allegations of Electoral Irregularities

Speaking after voting, Ajayi criticized the conduct of the election, citing alleged irregularities.

“We have noticed gross irregularities in this exercise,” he said, without elaborating on specific incidents.

A Heated Race

As votes are tallied across the state, Ajayi’s early victory at his polling unit adds momentum to his campaign. However, the overall outcome of the election remains uncertain, with rival camps closely monitoring proceedings and raising concerns about transparency.