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The Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has declared that it will not be hard for him to defeat his challengers during next year’s ballot.

Speaking last night after being announced as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in the state, Ajimobi said: “I have won before and now that I have won the primaries again, it will not be hard to defeat any other candidate from the opposition parties.”

The governor coasted to victory with 4,662 votes, defeating his opponent, Dr. Ayobami Adesina, son of former governor of the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, who polled 22 votes.

Accreditation of delegates began at 9:30 a.m., while voting commenced at 3pm at the main bowl of Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan. The result of the election was announced 7:45 p.m. Out of the 4,776 accredited voters, 4,774 voted while 90 votes were declared invalid.

The chairman of five-member committee that conducted the primaries, Hon. Lumumba Adeh, said that 4,776 delegates were accredited and voted at the primaries.

His words: “We had three aspirants screened by the APC Screening Committee, and they are Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Dr. Wasiu Abayomi Lam-Adesina and Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) we had interaction with all the aspirants but one of the aspirants, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, indicated that he was not going to participate in the exercise. He submitted a petition but that would not stop the exercise; and it is by way of information. His petition or letter will be forwarded to the National Secretariat of the party.”

• Photo shows Governor Ajimobi casting his vote during the guber primaries . . . yesterday at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

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