Former President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the outcome of the Ondo State governorship election, saying that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory is a clear indication that Nigerians have confidence in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Buhari said this in a statement issued on Monday and signed by his media aide, Garba Shehu.
He added that the voters in the state have spoken lucidly and loudly about the confidence they have in the party and the governor, and that their wish, expressed through the ballot box, should be respected by other stakeholders.
Shehu said, “Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed happiness with the success of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the governorship election in Ondo State, which returned Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa with a landslide victory.
“In his reaction to the outcome of the election, the former President said the voters had spoken lucidly and loudly about the confidence they have in the party and the governor, and their wish, expressed through the ballot box, should be respected by other stakeholders.”
The former President said while the election outcome has shown that democracy remains strong and cannot be easily overturned in a country as large and diverse as Nigeria, “It is equally a challenge to the Governor-elect to put in place policies that engender economic growth, tame high unemployment and inflation, and advance the pursuit of welfare programs to make life better for the people.
“President Buhari commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and law enforcement agencies for the efforts they put into reducing observed shortcomings in previous elections.
“He wishes Governor Aiyedatiwa and his team a successful tenure in office.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the 2024 Ondo State governorship election.
The incumbent governor secured 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 117,845 votes to come second.
