President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who was declared governor-elect in Saturday’s Ekiti State gubernatorial election.
The president said the victory is well deserved considering Mr 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.
Mr Oyebanji scored 187,057 votes to defeat his closest challengers, Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who polled 82,211 votes and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party who scored 67, 457 votes.
The election was largely described as peaceful by observers but was also characterized by vote buying.
in a statement by his spokesperson Femi Adey, President Buhari also rejoiced with the APC chairman, Abdulahi Adamu, and the National Working Committee for the victory, the first under the tenure of the newly elected executives of the party.
“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,” said the president.
He charged all APC members across and outside the country to see this as a good omen for the 2023 general elections and work assiduously to ensure the party’s victory, continuing the trend with Osun State next month July.
President Buhari also felicitates 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 and the law enforcement agencies for the preparations put in place, urging them to keep the momentum for upcoming elections.
