President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on his re-election victory in the off-cycle governorship election held on Saturday. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President commended the people of Ekiti for their peaceful and orderly conduct during the election.
President Tinubu Praises Electoral Process
Tinubu described the election as a testament to the growing strength of Nigeria's democracy, noting that the peaceful exercise reflected the maturity of the electorate. He urged Oyebanji to continue delivering good governance and developmental projects to the people of Ekiti.
The President also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a credible election, as well as security agencies for maintaining law and order throughout the process.
Oyebanji's Re-election Victory
Governor Oyebanji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), secured a second term in office after defeating his closest rival, Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and other candidates. Official results announced by INEC showed Oyebanji winning 12 of the 16 local government areas in the state.
According to INEC, Oyebanji polled a total of 153,197 votes to defeat Oni who garnered 67,876 votes. The election recorded a voter turnout of 38.7%, with 238,727 accredited voters out of 617,000 registered voters.
Political Reactions and Implications
The re-election victory is seen as a consolidation of the APC's influence in the South-West region. Political analysts note that Oyebanji's win underscores his popularity and the effectiveness of his administration's policies in key sectors such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Segun Oni, in his concession speech, congratulated Oyebanji and called for unity, stating that the election was free and fair. He urged his supporters to accept the outcome in the interest of peace and progress in Ekiti State.
The election was largely peaceful, with no major incidents reported. Security was beefed up across the state to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
