APC’s Dayo Faduyile Wins Ondo South Senatorial Bye-Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Prof. Dayo Faduyile of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Ondo South Senatorial District bye-election held on Saturday.

Faduyile, a former National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Special Adviser on Health Matters to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, secured a decisive victory across the district.

Announcing the results at the collation centre in Okitipupa, the Returning Officer, Prof. Gbenga Solomon-Ibileye, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja, said Faduyile polled 68,474 votes.

His closest challenger, Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), garnered 1,411 votes, while Adesanya Olaoluwa of the Action People’s Party (APP) and Clement Funso-Nejo of the Boot Party (BP) secured 213 and 70 votes respectively.

According to INEC, a total of 70,770 votes were cast during the election, with 602 ballots declared invalid. Voting took place across the six local government areas that make up the senatorial district: Okitipupa, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Irele, Odigbo and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo.

The bye-election was conducted to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of former Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Speaking after the declaration of results, Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, described the exercise as an important test ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He noted that while a few minor challenges were recorded, the commission would use the experience to improve future electoral processes.

Agboke also disclosed that all electoral personnel deployed to riverine communities returned safely and that no major security incidents were reported during the exercise.