February 27, 2022

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Alademayokun Olarewaju of the All Progressives Congress(APC) as winner of Saturday’s by-election for the Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency of Ondo State.

INEC also declared Mr Jude Ngaji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency by-election in Cross River.

Declaring the result in Akure, the Returning Officer, Prof. Deji Ogunseni, said Olarewaju polled 26, 370 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Olumuyiwa Adu of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), who scored 24, 201 votes.

Ogunseni said Mr Olawale Oyekanmi of the Accord Party scored 41 votes; Mrs Oluwawemimo Fadekemi of ADP scored 465 votes; Joseph Ajayi of APP polled 125 votes; Johnson Olawusi of NRM scored 76 votes, while Opawole Tajudeen of SDP scored 68 votes.

The by-election was conducted to fill the vacant seat, following the death of the member representing the constituency, Mr Adedayo Omolafe, in August, 2021.

In Cross River, Dr John Edor, the INEC Returning Officer for the election, announced the result on Sunday in Ogoja.

Edor said that Ngaji  (APC) scored 22,778 votes  to defeat his closest rival, Mr Mike Usibe of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), who garnered 20,590 votes.

Reacting, Mr Alphonsus Eba, the state APC chairman, commended INEC for a good job.

“The use of BVAS facilitated free and fair election,” he said.

Eba also commended President Muhammad Buhari for signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2022, into law.

“This will surely strengthen the electoral process, ” he said.

Mr Venatius Ikem, the state PDP chairman, said his party was still studying the situation and will respond at the most appropriate time.