Aiyedatiwa Attributes Victory to Tinubu’s Leadership, Strong Party Structure

Aiyedatiwa Attributes Victory to Tinubu’s Leadership, Strong Party Structure

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Governor-elect of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has attributed his recent electoral victory to the effective governance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the robust framework of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). 

Speaking to newsmen soon after receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Wednesday, Aiyedatiwa emphasized the support he received from both the party and the president.

Accompanied by his Deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami, the governor expressed his gratitude during a thank you visit to the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, at the party’s secretariat in Abuja. 

“I want to thank the leadership of the party for providing this platform for me and my deputy to run as governor and deputy in the just concluded election,” he said.

Highlighting the overwhelming support from the electorate, Aiyedatiwa noted that the massive votes received placed a “burden” on him to exceed the accomplishments of his previous tenure. “With the kind of massive votes that the people gave to us, we recognize the responsibility to do even more than we have in the last ten months,” he stated.

The Governor-elect reaffirmed the effectiveness of Tinubu’s administration, crediting it as a vital factor in the election. “The leadership at the center under President Tinubu, his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the integrity of our party’s organization made all the difference in Ondo State,” Aiyedatiwa added.

Reflecting on the party’s message of commitment, he asserted, “APC will take over from us again, and that is what we will ensure, so that the title of our party remains intact.” He emphasized that the victory signifies the people’s trust in the APC, asserting, “Ondo State is a progressive state. Whenever the progressives govern the state, peace prevails.”

Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC National Chairman, commended Aiyedatiwa’s win and expressed confidence in the party’s ability to expand its influence in the Southwest. 

“The Southwest geopolitical zone is the zone of our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Naturally, you expect that we should have homogeneity in terms of political leading,” he said.

Recall that Ganduje’s remarks, predicting future victories in Oyo and Osun states shortly after Aiyedatiwa was declared winner, prompted a strong response from the Osun State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), which accused him of inciting political unrest in the region.

Despite the criticism, Ganduje maintained his stance on the APC’s ambitions. “Through democratic means, we will do all that’s possible to ensure that we have homogeneity in that Southwest geopolitical zone,” he declared.