By Nifemi Adefemi
(with Agency Reports)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced 26-year-old Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the House of Assembly election in Owode/Onire Constituency, Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Rukayat secured 7,521 votes, beating her closest rival Abdullah Magaji of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 6,957 votes.
Making the announcement, the INEC returning officer, Prof Akeem Olasunkanmi Ijaiya, stated that Rukayat had satisfied all the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes. Rukayat , a former online journalist who quit her job to enter politics, is now the youngest lawmaker in Kwara State and potentially the youngest in the country to win a House of Assembly seat in the 2023 elections.
Her victory sparked widespread celebration among her supporters and party members, who took to the streets to express their joy.
Rukayat expressed gratitude to the people of her constituency for their overwhelming support and vowed to serve them to the best of her ability.