Prof. Dayo Faduyile of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in the Ondo South Senatorial District by-election conducted on Saturday after securing a commanding lead over his rivals.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Faduyile winner on Sunday at the collation centre in Okitipupa Local Government Area, with the Returning Officer, Prof. Gbenga Solomon-Ibileye, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, announcing the final results.
According to Solomon-Ibileye, the APC candidate polled 68,474 votes to clinch the senatorial seat.
Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) came a distant second with 1,411 votes, while Adesanya Olaoluwa of the Action Peoples Party (APP) secured 213 votes. Clement Funso-Nejo of the Boot Party received 70 votes.
The Returning Officer disclosed that a total of 70,770 votes were cast during the election, while 602 ballots were rejected.
Speaking after the exercise, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mutiu Agboke, described the by-election as a valuable rehearsal for the 2027 general elections.
He said the few challenges encountered during the poll would help the Commission strengthen its preparations for future elections.
“The results of the election reflected the people’s voice and thank God that all INEC staff who went to the riverine came back safely and no negative report anywhere,” Agboke said.
The by-election was conducted across six local government areas of the senatorial district: Okitipupa, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Irele, Odigbo and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo.
The election became necessary following the appointment of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
