Ondo Poll: APC Maintains Lead in 15 LGAs as Collation Resumes at 12 Noon

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a second recess in the ongoing collation of results for the Ondo State elections, after adding two more Local Government Areas (LGAs) to the 13 results previously declared. With a total of 15 LGAs accounted for so far, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is holding a commanding lead, followed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in second place.

Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, the collation officer, made the announcement of the recess, explaining that it was necessary to allow more time for the arrival of results from the remaining local governments, which are located quite far from Akure, the state capital.

“We need to adjourn until 12 noon,” Prof. Akinwunmi said. “The remaining local governments, Ilaje and Ese Odo, are quite distant, so we need to give them time to arrive here. We will resume at 12 noon.”

So far, the 15 Local Government Areas announced are Ifedore, Ondo East, Ileoluji Oke-Igbo, Idanre, Irele, Akoko South West, Owo, Ondo West, Akoko South East, Akoko North West, Ose, Akoko North East, Akure South, Akure North, and Okitipupa. The remaining local governments are Ilaje, Odigbo, and Ese Odo.

A controversy arose in one of the LGAs, Idanre, where the PDP’s agent raised concerns about alleged incidents of vote-buying, ballot box snatching, and claims of no elections taking place in certain areas. The PDP representative urged the returning officer to reject the results from Idanre, citing these issues.

Before the collation process began, INEC National Commissioner Prof. Kunle Ajayi, speaking with Channels Television in Akure, assured the public that the results would be declared by 6:00 AM.

“I assure you that we will stay here until we declare the winner,” Prof. Ajayi said. “We won’t leave until the last local government is accounted for, and I believe that by 6 AM, everything will be concluded.”