Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has congratulated governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu, on his victory in the governorship election held on Saturday.
“I congratulate the Governor-elect, @RotimiAkeredolu, SAN, and wish him success in the challenging task of governing our dear State,” Mimiko said in a message posted on Twitter, 24 hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate winner.
He also promised to “facilitate a smooth transition between my government and the incoming one.”
I congratulate the Governor-elect, @RotimiAkeredolu, SAN, and wish him success in the challenging task of governing our dear State.
— Dr Olusegun Mimiko (@Segunmimiko) November 28, 2016
It is incumbent upon me as Governor to facilitate a smooth transition between my government and the incoming one.
— Dr Olusegun Mimiko (@Segunmimiko) November 28, 2016
I will, to this end, provide the ambience for a smooth and seamless transition process.
— Dr Olusegun Mimiko (@Segunmimiko) November 28, 2016
I express my sincere appreciation to all our citizens for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves throughout this period.
— Dr Olusegun Mimiko (@Segunmimiko) November 28, 2016
I will not waiver in providing needed leadership to our dear State till the last day of my term.
— Dr Olusegun Mimiko (@Segunmimiko) November 28, 2016
Returning officer for the election, Prof Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali, announced on Sunday that Akeredolu polled 244,842 votes to defeat his closest rival, Eyitayo Jegede, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who recorded 150,380 votes.
Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) placed third with 126,889 votes.
The PDP, to which Mimiko belongs, has rejected the result, saying it was heading to court to challenge it.
Spokesperson of the party, Dayo Adeyeye, on Monday said INEC aided APC to rig the election.
“It is common knowledge that the APC Agents openly bought votes of the electorates in the full glare of security operatives who did nothing to prevent such dastardly violation of the Electoral Law.
“It is not surprising that the electorates in Ondo state became so vulnerable to the corruptive influence of the APC because of the hash economic situation in the Country inflicted on Nigerians by the APC Administration which have indeed made all Nigerians virtually beggars in their own Country,” Adeyeye said in a statement.
Blaming INEC for refusing to postpone the election to give Jegede time to adequately campaign, PDP said the election fell short of laid down principles guiding conduct of elections in Nigeria.
“We have instructed our Candidate and the Ondo State Chapter of our Party to proceed to the Tribunal to challenge the Outcome of the Election.
“We call on the Judiciary to redeem Nigeria’s image on this matter as we request for the total Cancellation of the Election in Ondo State,” the party said.
