The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Dayo Faduyile of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Ondo South Senatorial District by-election held on Saturday.
The result was announced on Sunday at the collation centre in Okitipupa by the Returning Officer, Prof. Gbenga Solomon-Ibileye, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja.
According to the final results, Faduyile secured 68,474 votes to emerge victorious in the poll, defeating candidates of three other political parties.
Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) finished second with 1,411 votes, while Adesanya Olaoluwa of the Action People’s Party (APP) polled 213 votes.
Clement Funso-Nejo of the Boot Party (BP) came fourth with 70 votes.
Solomon-Ibileye stated that a total of 70,770 votes were cast during the election, with 602 votes declared invalid.
Following the announcement, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mutiu Agboke, described the exercise as an important learning opportunity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He noted that the commission would review the minor challenges encountered during the by-election to strengthen future electoral processes.
Agboke expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the poll, saying the outcome reflected the wishes of the electorate across the district.
“The results of the election reflected the people’s voice, and thank God that all INEC staff who went to the riverine areas returned safely and there was no negative report from anywhere,” he 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 former senator, Jimoh Ibrahim, as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, creating a vacancy in the Senate seat.
With the declaration, Faduyile is set to represent Ondo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly for the remainder of the tenure.
