Mr Oyebanji thanked voters, political leaders, party supporters and INEC officials for the peaceful conduct of the election.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State and his deputy, Monisade Afuye, on Tuesday, received their Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), formally confirming their victory for a second term in the 20 June governorship election in the state.
The presentation ceremony, held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, marks the conclusion of the electoral process that returned Mr Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), to office for another four-year term and cemented his place in the state’s political history as the first governor to secure a second term election consecutively since Ekiti was created in 1996.
Speaking at the event, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos states, Sam Olumekun, described the governorship poll as peaceful, credible and reflective of the will of the electorate.
He commended voters, political parties, election officials, security agencies, civil society organisations and the media for their roles in the conduct of the election.
The INEC official said the election demonstrated the commitment of Ekiti residents to democratic values and peaceful political participation.
“Today’s event marks the formal conclusion of one phase of the electoral process and the beginning of another important phase in the democratic governance of the state,” Mr Olumekun said.
He, however, urged the governor and deputy governor, who will be inaugurated for their second term in office on 16 October, to view the certificates not merely as symbols of electoral victory but as reminders of the responsibility entrusted to them by the people of the state.
For Mr Oyebanji, the ceremony represents the final stage of a political journey that culminated in a historic victory at the polls. The governor won the Saturday’s election after defeating 13 other candidates, polling 319,224 votes to secure a landslide victory across the state’s 16 local government areas.
His closest challenger, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Wole Oluyede, scored 40,543 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dare Bejide, came third with 12,872 votes. However, the ADC candidate has rejected the outcome of the election, which, he said, was marred by widesrpead vote-buying. He said he would decide the next line of action after reviewing the exercise and the results with his party.
Democracy-focussed civil society group, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), also raised concerns over widespread allegations of vote-buying, inconsistencies in sensitive election materials and malfunctioning voter accreditation devices during Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election.
Despite the setbacks in the election process, the result was widely seen as one of the most decisive governorship victories recorded in the state since the return to democratic rule.
Mr Oyebanji’s victory comes a break with a political pattern that had defined Ekiti politics for nearly three decades. Since the creation of the state in 1996, no incumbent governor had successfully secured re-election through the ballot box.
Former governors including Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, Segun Oni, Kayode Fayemi and Kayode Fayose either left office prematurely or lost re-election bids. Only Fayemi and Fayose were able to stage a comeback to win an unconsencutive second term.
The APC candidate’s victory in the just concluded election therefore marks the first time an incumbent governor has won a second consecutive term in the state.
Political observers attributed the outcome to a combination of broad political alliances, support from key stakeholders, particularly all former governos of the state and the governor’s popularity across party lines.
In his remarks at the event, Mr Oyebanji thanked voters, political leaders, party supporters and INEC officials for the peaceful conduct of the election. He also extended an olive branch to his opponents, calling for unity and collective efforts towards the development of the state.
The governor said the election should not divide Ekiti people and urged political actors to put the contest behind them in the interest of progress.
He commended INEC for conducting what he described as a professional and transparent election and expressed confidence that lessons from the poll would strengthen future elections.
“I thank the people of Ekiti State for their support and confidence in our administration. The election is over; now is the time to work together for the development of our state,” he said.
Mr Oyebanji also pledged to remain committed to inclusive governance and the continuation of programmes aimed at improving infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and economic development.
The Ekiti Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, described the election as one of the most peaceful governorship polls conducted in the state.
He noted that preparations for the exercise began about a year earlier with the publication of the notice of election and commended election officials for their professionalism.
“The journey has continued, but it is my joy to note that INEC commanded all odds to conduct a value free, fair, and committed election,” Omoseyindemi stated.
According to him, the election showcased improvements in electoral administration and demonstrated the commission’s commitment to conducting credible elections.
He said the commission would continue to strengthen electoral processes ahead of future polls across the country.
