Politics
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.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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