Celebrations, acceptance and defiance characterised
the reactions to the result of winners in,Ogun, Lagos and Oyo states.
In Ogun, incumbent Senator Ibikunle Amosun of All Progressives' Congress won with 306,998 votes to Peoples' Democratic Party's 201,448 and Social Democratic Party's 25,826 votes cast.
Amosun, certain of victory, watched the poll returns with journalists. After his announcement as the winner, he grinned as he acknowledged cheers all around. Minutes afterwards, his wife led the small crowd in singing a praise chorus, appreciating God for the victory.
Amosun then led a victory dance around major streets in Abeokuta, the state's capital. He also promises to take the celebrations round the state.
But, the PDP is not in,a jubilant mood, it has vowed to challenge the result at the Election Petitions Tribunal.
Amosun's victory is necessitated by the split in the SDP. Many watchers believe the party would have won more votes if it had fielded Dimeji Bankole, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives who has more experience and exposure than Akin Odunsi, the eventual candidate after the SDP primaries.
The outcome in Lagos is slightly different. Though Akinwunmi Ambode if APC won with 792,460 to Jimi Agbaje of PDP's 632,327 votes cast representing a margin of 152,206 votes cast in Ambode's favour.
The new governor was naturally elated, lauded Agbaje for running a good race. He added his administration will not discriminate against any tribe or political group in the new incoming dispensation. This is an ovbious reference to the ethnic tensions which played out in the days before the election which played in Agbaje's favour as he pulled in more votes in areas heavily populated by Igbo in areas like Amuwo Odofin, Oshodi/Isolo and Ajeromi-Ifelodun local governments.
Reacting, Agbaje conceded defeat on the justification that there must be winners and losers in an election. He then announced unequivocally that the second failed attempt at the former federal capital marks his last try at contesting for Lagos' gubernatorial seat. Rather, he would seek other avenues at serving the people in different capacities.
In Oyo, the mood is wildly ecstatic as Gover Bola Ajimobi shattered history books by emerging as the first ever incumbent to secure a second tenure through the ballot box. Predecessors like respected Bola Ige, Rasidi Ladoja, Christopher Alao-Akala have been unsuccessful at breaking this jinx. This is particularly achievable with the level playing field caused by the former dictator of Oyo politics,Lamidi Adedibu who usually armteist deviants to snatch ballot boxes and disrupt poll proceedings in contentious areas to ensure his candidate of choice wins. His gargantuan demands as remuneration for his assistance progressively stifling for his anointed candidates and by the end of a term, the relations between godfather and godson is often irreparably fractious.
His exit also led to Ajimobi's first coming as Oyo's governor.
This time around, Ajimobi of APC won with 327,310 to Ladoja, running again under Accord Party, 254,520, of total votes cast.
However, Ladoja refused to sign the electoral sheet at the state's electoral agency collation centre and subsequently walked out. He has equally vowed to challenge the result at the tribunal.
This development has not dampened the jubilation among Ajimobi's supporters.
