Just as confidently predicted yesterday by News Express, incumbent Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (shown in photo), has dusted all challengers to retain his seat.

Results of 15 of the 18 local governments released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at 4:33 a.m. showed the Labour Party (LP) candidate taking an unassailable lead, with his main challengers, Chief Rotimi Akerodolu (SAN) of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Chief Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailing far behind.

The main surprise is the abysmal performance of ACN, the country’s second biggest party, which hoped to dislodge Mimiko and unite the South-West under one political umbrella. Chief Akerodolu has so far been beaten to the third position by the erudite Chief Oke. Results so far released returned 218,874 votes for Mimiko, 117,113 for Oke and 119,983 for Akerodolu. INEC  has promised to release the results of the remaining three local government areas (Ilaje, Ese Odo and Odigbo) by 10:00 a.m.

It would be recalled that News Express had yesterday tipped Mimiko as winner of the ballot based on incumbency factor, his performance in office, his strong campaign and the likelihood of credible elections.