Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of Ondo State has said he is more popular than his most likely rival Agboola Ajayi in the just-concluded gubernatorial election.
Mr Ayedattiwa stated this following the results of the election on Saturday, November 16, where he won over Mr Ajayi, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News recalls that Mr. Ajayi was a former deputy governor from 2017 to 2021.
But Ayedatiwa on Sunday ridiculed his political opponents, saying they had not even been able to win the local government in previous elections.
The Ondo State governor said this while referring to claims that Mr. Ajayi is more popular and politically sound than him.
Ayedatiwa said: “The people of Ondo State know both of us. We served the same master (Rotimi Akeredolu). May his soul rest in peace.
“People know us well.
“This is a gubernatorial election, not a ward election. This is a separate election, not a city councilor election or a chairman election. It is not a local government election conducted by the governor.
“Of course I’m more popular. People can see. Let me say this. He previously ran for governor against the late governor under the Zenith Labor Party. He didn’t even win the local government, if he was so popular and had that kind of followership. Even if he won 10 of the local government wards, he only won one. .”
buy votes
Addressing the vote-buying allegations, Ayedatiwa, who was broadcast live on Channels TV, said he was not aware of any vote-buying activities carried out by political actors on his behalf.
On Sunday night, the Ondo State Governor said the opposition parties were using the vote-buying allegations as a reason for their defeat.
“I don’t know about that. The opposition would like to say that to excuse their failures, but for us that’s what our efforts are about. The people spoke through their votes.
“There will be no reason to buy votes because Ondo people know what they want. I am not aware of people buying votes on my behalf,” Ayedatiwa said. said.
Watch Ayedatiwa’s talk below.
