Ekiti Guber: Fayemi Concedes Defeat, Congratulates Fayose

In a rare display of
sportsmanship, Ekiti State governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state’s governorship election held last Saturday, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has conceded defeat to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose.
Fayose who was a former governor of the state between May, 2003 and October, 2006 defeated Fayemi and 16 other contenders to emerge the winner of the governorship election.
Fayose polled a total of 203, 090 votes, leaving his two major rivals, Fayemi and Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party with paltry 120,433 and 18,135 votes, respectively.
The results announced by the state’s Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, Prof Isaac Azuzu Uzoma, showed that Fayose got majority votes in all the 16 local government areas of the state.
Announcing the results in Ado Ekiti, Prof Uzoma, said “having satisfied the law and scored the majority votes, Ayo Fayose of PDP is hereby declared the winner of the election”.
Indications that Fayose would win the election emerged early during the voting as most of the votes counted at the various polling units across the state clearly showed that he was leading other candidates.
Notwithstanding the heavy presence of military personnel during the election, reports reaching The Tide showed that the election was peaceful and the turn-out was impressive as registered voters who had permanent voter cards (PVC) trooped to their respective polling units for accreditation as early as 6.am
In a state broadcast early yesterday, Governor Fayemi congratulated Fayose on his victory, saying he stood by the will of the people if the outcome of the election was a true reflection of the peoples’ wish.
He said, “Yesterday (Saturday), Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
“If indeed, this is the will of the Ekiti people, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice.
“I have just spoken with my brother, Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme”.
He thanked members of his party (APC), his campaign team and Ekiti people “who defied the siege state to cast their votes for our party. I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of the harassment.
Meanwhile, Fayose has dedicated his victory to the people of Ekiti State, saying his victory reflected the wishes of the people of the state.
Speaking through his Chief Press Officer, Mr Idowu Adelusi, Fayose described the election as free, fair and credible.
Fayose’s victory has, however, altered the 2015 calculations in the South West. The number of the state under the control of the APC has now reduced to four.

Boye Salau

L-R: Returning officer for Ekiti State governorship election, Prof. Isaac Asuzu, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Alhaji Halilu Pai and National Commissioner of INEC, Dr Chris Iyimoga, during the release of final results for Ekiti State governorship election in Ado-Ekiti last Sunday.