By Alaba Adeyemi
AKURE — The All Progressives Congress (APC) has solidified its dominance in Ondo State by winning 16 of the 18 chairmanship seats in the local government elections held on Saturday. The announcement was made by Joseph Aeemo, Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), at the commission’s headquarters in Akure on Sunday.
The election, which had been postponed multiple times, marked the return of democratic leadership in the state’s local councils after 16 months of caretaker administration. Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs) had been overseeing the councils since August 2023, following the expiration of the previous officials’ tenure.
Despite the APC’s sweeping victory, the contest was not without controversy. The main opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), boycotted the election, citing a lack of confidence in ODIEC’s ability to conduct a free and fair process.
“We do not believe in the credibility of this electoral commission,” a PDP spokesperson said, reflecting widespread skepticism about the fairness of the process.
Only 12 parties participated in the election, including the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The absence of the PDP, historically the APC’s strongest rival, created a near-uncontested pathway for the ruling party to dominate.
As of Sunday evening, ODIEC confirmed results for 16 council areas, while voting was still underway in the rescheduled Ondo West local government and results were awaited from Owo LGA.
The election comes at a critical time as the state prepares for future political challenges. Observers have noted that the APC’s performance could influence the party’s momentum heading into broader state and national elections.
With their victory, the APC now faces the task of addressing pressing local issues, including infrastructure development, education, and healthcare. For residents of Ondo, the question remains: will the newly elected leaders rise to the occasion or merely perpetuate the status quo?
