Why Ondo State Capital Akure Remains Quiet After Akeredolu’s Re-Election

Akure, the Ondo State capital remained quiet on Sunday after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was declared the winner of the governorship election held in the state on Saturday.

The kind of jubilation which usually follow such electoral victories was lacking in the state capital on Sunday.

Some residents said the quiet situation in the state capital was expected because the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Eyitayo Jegede, who came second in the contest, is from Akure.

However, there was jubilation in Owo where the governor-elect hails from.

Residents of the town trooped out in large numbers to celebrate the victory of the governor-elect.

The governor and his deputy joined the people to move round the town in an open roof SUV.

The jubilant residents sang and danced while chanting 4 +4 as the governor and the deputy governor -elect drove round and waved at the crowd.

Governors from the All Progressives Congress gathered at the residence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in Owo, Ondo State to celebrate his victory.

But shortly before Akeredolu was declared  the governor-elect, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor Kayode Fayemi, Governor Yahaya Bello and Governor Gboyega Oyetola stormed Owo to await the announcement .

Also, former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and other APC leaders gathered to celebrate with the governor-elect.

Some of the residents of Akure told our correspondent that the people of the town were disappointed by the result of the poll.

An electronic dealer in Akure, Bolu Oluwasegun, told our correspondent that apart from Akure being the home base of the PDP governorship candidate, the economy of the state was poor and the people had hoped for a change.

He said, “People of the state, not only Akure, had hoped that a new governor would come in to correct some of the things which made the economy very bad.

” They were disappointed by the outcome of the election and you don’t expect such people to feel happy about the poll.”

A retired soldier, Pa Bolaji Omotunde, said indigenes of Akure were disappointed by the outcome of the poll.

He, however said, ” This does not mean that every Akure Indigene was not happy. Some people who supported the APC may not want to jubilate openly for fear of being attacked by the PDP supporters who are in the majority in Akure “