Senate President, David Mark has said that the National Assembly will move for the creation of new states, stating that the move would help address marginalisation in the country. Mark made the announcement at the 2012 Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu-Ode in a show of support for the agitation for the creation of Ijebu State out of the present Ogun State. He further said that the creation of new states would address the issue of marginalisation being canvassed in many parts of the country today. According to him “Creation of additional states can only make government closer to the people contrary to the view in certain quarters that we do not need additional states in the federation.”
The incumbent governor of Ondo state, Mr. Olusegun Mimiko of Labor Party (LP) is leading in 12 of the 18 local government areas of the state. He needs to win 11 local government areas to retain his position as the governor of the state.
His two main challengers, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Mr. Olusola Oke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are performing poorly based on uncertified results received by Saharareporters from election monitors and citizen reporters on the ground in Ondo State. Mimiko also won in Akeredolu’s wards in Owo and Oke’s wards in Ilaje areas of the state.