Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has described his victory in the state’s governorship election as a humbling endorsement from the people, promising to deepen development efforts and strengthen governance across the state during his second term.
Reacting to his victory after being declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oyebanji said the outcome demonstrated the electorate’s commitment to continuity, progress and stability.
The governor thanked residents of the state for what he called an unprecedented mandate, stressing that the election result reflected the hopes and expectations of Ekiti people.
“The voice of the people has reverberated from every part of our great state, and the message is clear.
“I am deeply humbled by the scale of this victory. Securing a clean sweep across all 16 local government areas and 85 per cent of the popular vote is a humbling vote of confidence from Ekiti Kete.
“From our urban centres to our most remote communities, you have spoken with one thunderous voice for continuous development, stability and a future of endless opportunities,” he said.
Oyebanji assured residents that his administration would make greater efforts to ensure the benefits of governance reach every community and household in the state.
“This mandate means that our work must touch every household even deeper. There are no winners or losers today; there is only one united Ekiti determined to continue its journey of upward mobility.
“I pledge to honour this immense trust by continuing to lead with humility, dedication and fairness,” Oyebanji added.
INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announced the final results in the early hours of Sunday, officially declaring Oyebanji the winner after he secured 319,224 votes across the 16 local government areas of the state.
Oladiji, who serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, disclosed that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oluwole Oluyede, polled 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress garnered 12,872 votes.
She further revealed that 384,940 voters were accredited for the exercise. Of the total votes cast, 375,777 were valid, while 6,332 were rejected, bringing the overall number of votes to 382,109.
The governorship election, which attracted significant public attention, was generally peaceful despite reports of technical hitches and allegations of irregularities in some polling areas.
