President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Biodun Oyebanji, as he was declared governor-elect in last Saturday’s Ekiti State Gubernatorial election.
This is even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election, Otunba Olabisi Kolawole, also congratulated Oyebanji on his victory at the poll.
The president said the victory was well deserved considering Oyebanji’s contributions to the development of the state and the party before his nomination as the standard-bearer, urging him, however, to be magnanimous in victory in the interest of the people of the state.
Buhari also rejoiced with the APC Chairman, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, and the National Working Committee (NWC) for the victory, the first under the tenure of the newly elected executives of the party.
The president, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, was quoted as saying, “This is a good beginning for you and your team. The APC is getting stronger and more united.
“The victory of our party in Ekiti is an indication of the confidence of Nigerians in the ability of our great party to deliver quality governance to all.”
He charged all APC members across and outside the country to see this as a good omen for the 2023 general election and work assiduously to ensure the party’s victory, continuing the trend with Osun State next month in July.
Buhari also felicitated the people of Ekiti State for the smooth conduct of the election, affirming that they are the real victors as they have been able to freely choose their leader for the next four years.
He lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the law enforcement agencies for the preparations put in place, urging them to keep the momentum for upcoming elections.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the Saturday governorship election in Ekiti state, Otunba Olabisi Kolawole, congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Biodun Oyebanji on his victory at the poll.
Kolawole, in a congratulatory letter he personally signed, was addressed to the APC candidate, Oyebanji and made to newsmen in Efon-Alaaye, yesterday.
“Following the announcement of your victory in the June 18 Ekiti Governorship Election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I hereby write to congratulate you accordingly.
“I believe that power belongs to God and He bestows upon whoever he chooses.
“I also believe in popular choice that the unfettered expression of the people’s mandate as one of the crucial hallmarks of democratic principle and practice.
“Democracy must therefore deliver to the people dividends of security or protection and enhance their social welfare and well-being basically, and among other deliverables.
“These were the motivation for my own ambition in the governorship of Ekiti State which I feel strongly to reiterate here in view of the precarious situations of our people at the moment.
“Please, take urgent actions aimed at redressing the plights of our people when you fully assume the mantle shortly.
“Finally, I wish you the guidance of the Almighty God in the onerous task ahead.
“Congratulations to your spouse and also running mate,” he stated.
However, the Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed gratitude towards the people the state for voting him in the Ekiti 2022 governorship election.
Oyebanji was declared winner of the Ekiti State governorship poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the hours of yesterday.
Oyebanji polled a total of 187, 057 votes to win the election, and was declared winner by the INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Oyebode Adebowale, having certified the requirements of the law.
The governor-elect early yesterday morning, said in a short Thank-You message via his verified Twitter handle, “Thank You, Ekiti Kete. #Ekitidecides2022All4BAO.”
Oyebanji defeated a former governor of Ekiti, Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, who scored 82, 211, to come second.
Oni was trailed from behind by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, BisiKolawole, who polled 67,457 votes.
Other political parties, which recorded votes in last Saturday’s governorship election, include Accord (A) 166; African Action Congress (AAC) 409; All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) 17; while Action Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 141 votes.
Also, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) scored 5,597; Allied Peoples Movement (APM) -290; Labour Party (LP) polled 195 votes; New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) scored 529; and National Rescue Movement (NRM) 347.
Others include Young Progressives Party (YPP)-618; All Peoples Party (APP) polled 1,980; and Zenith Labour Party(ZLP) polled 282; Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) polled 856.
According to the INEC returning officer, the total numbers of registered voters were 989,224, accredited voters, 363,438, valid votes were, 351,865 and voided votes were 8,888.
Meanwhile, supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State erupted in jubilation in the early hours of yesterday when the results of Saturday’s governorship election showed that the candidate of the party, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, trounced the 15 other candidates that partook in the exercise.
Oyebanji, who is the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, won in 15 out of the 16 local government areas of the state.
In Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, residents trooped to the streets to celebrate the victory in the dead of the night.
At the Government House in the OkeAyoba area of the town, other APC governors, led by the state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, monitored the exercise.
Similarly, in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area, where Oyebanji hails from, residents also began celebrating the victory of their kinsman at the poll.
Also in Ikere-Ekiti, where Oyebanji’s running mate, Mrs Monitade Afuye, hails from, residents also began celebration as the results were announced by the respective local government returning officers.
In different parts of the state also, some members of the ruling party celebrated the victory, describing it as well-deserved.
Prior to the announcement of the results at the collation centre, all the results from the 16 local government areas had been uploaded on the Result Viewing Portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, known as IReV.
The commission promised to adopt the electronic transmission of results, even though it would be complemented by manual transmission.
As of the time of filing this report at 2.10am, final collation was still ongoing, a precursor to the final announcement by the state’s returning officer.
However, there were isolated cases of violence in some polling units.
For example, in Ekiti South-West Local Government Area, the APC scored 9,679 votes ahead of SDP’s 4,577 and PDP’s 4,474 votes.
The Returning Officer for the LGA, Prof Gbolagade Jonathan, reported that there was violence in Units 5 and 7, where he said some hoodlums from nowhere carted away the ballot boxes, after firing gunshots.
Also, in Ikere LGA, the APC also won with 12,086 votes against the PDP and SDP, which scored 3,789 and 1943 respectively.
The Returning Officer, Prof Emmanuel Ajava, announced that votes in Unit 2 of the LGA were cancelled due to violence.
Although the governorship election held across the 16 local government areas and was relatively peaceful, incidents of vote-buying characterised the poll.
Candidates and agents of some political parties also alleged inducement of voters to deprive them of the opportunity of making their free choices.
It was gathered that some party agents were arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged vote-buying at a polling station at Ola Oluwa Grammar School, Ado Ekiti during the election.
A source, who spoke on the development, said the suspects were apprehended with a bag of cash allegedly being used to induce voters.
“One of the suspects, who claimed to be a party agent, was arrested and has been taken into custody,” the source said.