2020 Ondo State gubernatorial election

2020 Ondo State gubernatorial election

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Turnout	31.6% 1.85pp
Nominee Rotimi Akeredolu Eyitayo Jegede Agboola Ajayi Party APC PDP ZLP Running mate Lucky Ayedatiwa Gboluga Ikengboju Gboye Adegbenro Popular vote 292,830 195,791 69,127 Percentage 51.1% 34.2% 12.1%
LGA results Akeredolu:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     80–90% Jegede:     50–60%     60–70%
Governor before election Rotimi Akeredolu APC Elected Governor Rotimi Akeredolu APC

The 2020 Ondo State gubernatorial election was held on 10 October 2020. Incumbent APC governor Rotimi Akeredolu won re-election for a second term, defeating PDP Eyitayo Jegede, ZLP Agboola Ajayi and several minor party candidates.

Rotimi Akeredolu was the APC candidate. ^[1] He picked Lucky Ayedatiwa as his running mate. ^[2]

Eyitayo Jegede was the PDP candidate with Gboluga Ikengboju as his running mate. ^{[3] [4]} Agboola Ajayi was the ZLP candidate with Gboye Adegbenro as his running mate. ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]} Adedapo Benjamin Adelegan stood in for ADC in the polls, while Dotun Ojon represented YPP. ^[9] 17 candidates contested in the election, all were male, while 2 of the deputy governorship candidates were female. ^[10]

Electoral system

The Governor of Ondo State is elected using the plurality voting system.

Primary election

APC primary

The APC primary election was held on July 20, 2020. Rotimi Akeredolu, the incumbent governor won the primary election polling 2,725 votes against 7 other candidates. His closest rival was Olusola Oke, a former governorship aspirant in the state who came a distant second with 262 votes, while Isaac Kekemeke, came third with 19 votes. ^{[11] [1]}

Candidates

• Party nominee: Rotimi Akeredolu : Incumbent governor.
• Running mate: Lucky Ayedatiwa.
• Olusola Oke: Former governorship aspirant. Lost in the primary election.
• lsaac Kekemeke: Lost in the primary election.
• Jumoke Anifowose: Lost in the primary election.
• Olayide Adelami: Lost in the primary election.
• Sola Iji: Lost in the primary election.
• Awodeyi Akinsehinwa: Lost in the primary election.
• Bukola Adetula: Lost in the primary election.

PDP primary

The PDP primary election was held on July 22, 2020. Eyitayo Jegede won the primary election polling 888 votes against 7 other candidates. His closest rival was Agboola Ajayi, deputy governor in the state who came second with 675 votes, while Eddy Olafeso, a former vice chairman of the party in the state came a distant third with 175 votes. ^{[12] [3]}

Candidates

• Party nominee: Eyitayo Jegede .
• Running mate: Gboluga Ikengboju .
• Agboola Ajayi: Deputy governor. Lost in the primary election.
• Eddy Olafeso: Former vice chairman of the party in the state. Lost in the primary election.
• Bode Ayorinde: Former member of the House of Representatives. Lost in the primary election.
• Banji Okunomo: Lost in the primary election.
• Sola Ebiseni: Former commissioner. Lost in the primary election.
• Godday Erewa: Lost in the primary election.
• Boluwaji Kunlere: Lost in the primary election.

Results

A total of 17 candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. ^[9] APC Governor Rotimi Akeredolu won re-election for a second term, defeating PDP Eyitayo Jegede, ZLP Agboola Ajayi and several minor party candidates. Akeredolu received 51.1% of the votes, Jegede received 34.2%, while Ajayi received 12.1%. ^[13]

The total number of registered voters in the state was 1,812,634 while 595,213 voters were accredited. Total number of votes cast was 591,193, while number of valid votes was 572,745. Rejected votes were 18,448. ^[13]

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Rotimi Akeredolu	All Progressives Congress	292,830	51.13
	Eyitayo Jegede	People's Democratic Party	195,791	34.18
	Agboola Ajayi	Zenith Labour Party	69,127	12.07
	Martin Kunle Olateru-Olagbegi	Action Democratic Party	3,464	0.60
	Fasua Peter Oyeleye	Social Democratic Party	3,053	0.53
	Adelegan Adedapo Oluwaseyi	African Democratic Congress	2,440	0.43
	Okunade Taiwo	Labour Party	1,977	0.35
	Adeleye Adekunle Peter	African Action Congress	814	0.14
	Babatunde Francis Alli	People's Redemption Party	669	0.12
	Adesanya Olaoluwa	Action Peoples Party	527	0.09
	Funmilayo Jenyo Ataunoko	National Rescue Movement	468	0.08
	Ojon Dotun	Young Progressives Party	398	0.07
	Aminu Akeem Olarenwaju	Allied Peoples Movement	309	0.05
	Rotimi Adeleye Akindejoye	Accord	292	0.05
	Olowoloba Dele	All Progressives Grand Alliance	271	0.05
	Ojajuni Joseph Eniola	New Nigeria Peoples Party	222	0.04
	Joshua Oluwafemi Adewole	Action Alliance	93	0.02
Total			572,745	100.00
Valid votes			572,745	96.88
Invalid/blank votes			18,448	3.12
Total votes			591,193	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			1,812,634	32.62
Source: INEC, INEC

By local government area

Here are the results of the election by local government area for the two major parties. The total valid votes of 572,745 represents the 17 political parties that participated in the election. Blue represents LGAs won by Akeredolu. Green represents LGAs won by Jegede. ^{[14] [15]}

County	Rotimi Akeredolu APC		Eyitayo Jegede PDP		Total Votes
	#	%	#	%	#
Ifedore	9,350	44%	11,852	56%	21,202
Ile Oluji/Okeigbo	13,278	59%	9,231	41%	22,509
Irele	12,643	69.7%	5,493	30.3%	18,136
Akoko North-East	16,572	66.4%	8,380	33.6%	24,952
Akoko South-East	21,232	58.5%	15,055	41.5%	36,287
Akoko North-West	15,809	60.5%	10,320	39.5%	26,129
Ondo East	6,485	61.6%	4,049	38.4%	10,534
Akure North	9,546	43.8%	12,263	56.2%	21,809
Owo	35,957	87.1%	5,311	12.9%	41,268
Idanre	11,286	60.1%	7,499	39.9%	18,785
Akoko South-East	9,419	70.2%	4,003	29.8%	13,422
Akure South	17,277	26.6%	47,627	73.4%	64,904
Ose	15,122	64.2%	8,421	35.8%	23,543
Okitipupa	19,266	65%	10,367	35%	29,633
Ondo West	15,977	60.1%	10,627	39.9%	26,604
Odigbo	23,571	71.3%	9,485	28.7%	33,056
Ilaje	26,657	70.5%	11,128	29.5%	37,785
Ese Odo	13,383	74.1%	4,680	25.9%	18,063
Totals	292,830	51.1%	195,791	34.2%	572,745

Aftermath

Later in October, Jegede officially challenged the results at the Ondo State Election Petitions Tribunal based on four alleged issues: irregularities in the results, violence, intimidation of voters, and improper holding of the APC primary. This challenge was filed as Akeredolu had already set up a 25-member inaugural committee headed by Deputy Governor-elect Lucky Aiyedatiwa. ^[16] The Tribunal held first its proceedings on the case on November 4 ^[17] and its inaugural sitting on December 8, which was met with considerable violence between APC and PDP supporters outside the High Court Complex. ^[18] After Akeredolu was sworn in for a second term in office on February 24, 2021, ^[19] the Tribunal reached an April 20 verdict in favor of Akeredolu by dismissing Jegede’s petition for lack of merit. ^[20]

After the verdict, Akeredolu told Jegede to join him in uniting Ondo and to avoid further litigation, ^[21] however, the Ondo State PDP said it would appeal the tribunal's decision. ^[22] The PDP appeal to the Court of Appeal in Akure failed as well with the court's Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua-led five-member panel dismissing their case. ^[23] however, the Ondo State PDP said it would appeal the tribunal's decision. ^[24] Nonetheless, the Ondo PDP immediately announced that they would appeal to the Supreme Court while Akeredolu once again called for Jegede to avoid litigation to unite the state and claimed that Jegede will lose at the Supreme Court as well. ^[25]

On July 28, 2021, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court upheld the decisions of the Court of Appeal and Ondo State Election Petitions Tribunal in a 4-3 decision. The majority opinion stated that while Jegede may have been correct in that Mai Mala Buni was not legitimately the national APC Caretaker Chairman and thus could not nominate Akeredolu, since Jegede failed to name Buni in the appeal, it must be dismissed. The dissenting opinion held that since the APC itself was named in the case, the appeal could have been heard. ^{[26] [27] [28]} After the ruling, Jegede finally conceded while Akeredolu praised the judiciary and his legal team. ^{[29] [30]} The parties reacted similarly, with the APC commending the decision while the PDP stated its respect for the judiciary but claimed that the reason for the decision effectively vindicated their case. ^[31]

References

1. Johnson, Dayo (July 20, 2020). "Akeredolu emerges APC governorship candidate, records landslide victory". Vanguard Newspaper . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
2. Adejumo, Kabir (July 29, 2020). "Ondo 2020: Akeredolu announces running mate". Premium Times . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
3. Johnson, Dayo (July 23, 2020). "Eyitayo Jegede emerges Ondo PDP governorship candidate, defeats deputy governor, Ajayi". Vanguard Newspaper . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
4. Adejumo, Kabir (August 17, 2020). "Ondo 2020: PDP's Eyitayo Jegede picks federal lawmaker as running mate". Premium Times . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
5. Abdul, Babajide (August 14, 2020). "Third force emerges in Ondo as Akeredolu's Deputy, Ajayi declares for ZLP". Daily Post Nigeria . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
6. Adejumo, Kabir (August 17, 2020). "Ondo 2020: Deputy Governor Ajayi picks Mimiko's ally as running mate". Premium Times . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
7. Oluwole, Josiah (August 16, 2020). "Ondo 2020: Why I surrendered governorship ticket to Agboola Ajayi – ZLP candidate". Premium Times . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
8. Adejumo, Kabir (August 10, 2020). "Ondo 2020: ZLP clears Ondo Deputy Governor Ajayi". Premium Times . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
9. Adejumo, Kabir (October 9, 2020). "Profiles: Know the candidates for Ondo 2020 election". Premium Times . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
10. "PROVISIONAL LIST OF CANDIDATES 2020 Governorship Election - Ondo State" (PDF). inecnigeria.org. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
11. Adejumo, Kabir (July 20, 2020). "Ondo 2020: APC governorship primary commences". Premium Times . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
12. Adejumo, Kabir (July 22, 2020). "Ondo 2020: Deputy governor, seven others battle for PDP ticket". Premium Times . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
13. "Declaration of Result to the Office of the Governor, Ondo State". Twitter . Retrieved October 11, 2020.
14. "Final Collation Of Ondo Governorship Election Results". Channels TV . Retrieved October 11, 2020.
15. Akinola, Ajibola (October 11, 2020). "Akeredolu Defeats Jegede Again, Re-Elected As Governor". Channels TV . Retrieved October 11, 2020.
16. Dada, Peter. "Akeredolu's aide mocks Jegede as PDP candidate heads for tribunal". The Punch . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
17. Dada, Peter. "Tribunal grants substituted service on Akeredolu". The Punch . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
18. Dada, Peter. "Many injured as APC, PDP supporters clash at tribunal in Ondo". The Punch . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
19. "Governor Akeredolu of Ondo has just been sworn-in for a 2nd term in office". Pulse Nigeria. February 24, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
20. Dada, Peter. "Ondo poll: Tribunal strikes out Jegede's petition against Akeredolu". The Punch . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
21. Dada, Peter. "Shun litigation, Akeredolu tells Jegede after tribunal victory". The Punch . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
22. Dada, Peter. "PDP plans appeal as Ondo tribunal declares Akeredolu poll winner". The Punch . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
23. Dada, Peter. "Shun litigation, Akeredolu tells Jegede after tribunal victory". The Punch . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
24. Dada, Peter. "Appeal Court dismisses Jegede's case against Akeredolu's victory". The Punch . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
25. Dada, Peter. "Ondo poll: I'll defeat Jegede in Supreme Court, says Akeredolu". The Punch . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
26. Nwisagbo, Lesi. "Supreme Court dismisses Jegede's appeal against Akeredolu". The Punch . Retrieved July 29, 2021.
27. Nnochiri, Ikechukwu. "[UPDATED]Ondo Gov Poll: In split judgment, S'Court affirms Akeredolu's victory". Vanguard . Retrieved July 29, 2021.
28. "UPDATED: Supreme Court upholds Akeredolu's victory". Premium Times . Retrieved July 29, 2021.
29. Dada, Peter. "Ondo: Jegede congratulates Akeredolu on Supreme Court victory". The Punch . Retrieved July 29, 2021.
30. Dada, Peter. "Supreme Court: Let's work for the upliftment of Ondo, Akeredolu tells Jegede". The Punch . Retrieved July 29, 2021.
31. Baiyewu, Leke. "APC, PDP differ on Akeredolu's Supreme Court victory over Jegede". The Punch . Retrieved July 29, 2021.