Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has won Saturday’s governorship election in a landslide, securing a second term in office and further consolidating the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s dominance in the state.
Political observers attributed the sweeping victory to the administration’s performance in infrastructure, education, healthcare and workers’ welfare, as well as the broad support Oyebanji enjoys across political divides.
When the votes were counted and the dust settled, the margin was emphatic.
Oyebanji of the APC polled 319,224 votes to defeat Olumayokun Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 40,533 votes, while Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 12,872 votes.
Out of 988,251 registered voters, 384,940 were accredited, with 382,109 votes cast and 375,777 declared valid.
Oyebanji’s victory was total. He swept all 16 local government areas, including Efon LGA, the home base of the PDP candidate.
In Efon, the APC polled 8,742 votes against the PDP’s 2,051 and the ADC’s 201.
From Ado-Ekiti to Ikole, Ijero to Moba and Ekiti East to Irepodun/Ifelodun, the APC wave swept across the state.
Saturday’s ballot was a referendum. Sunday’s declaration was the answer.
With a second term secured, Oyebanji returns to Government House with a statewide mandate and is expected to intensify policies aimed at boosting economic growth, improving public services and enhancing the welfare of Ekiti residents.
For the opposition, it is back to the drawing board. For Ekiti, the work continues.
Ekiti has spoken, and INEC has validated the verdict.
