•Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has vowed to intensify efforts aimed at driving economic growth, reducing poverty and expanding opportunities for residents following his victory in the governorship exercise.
Oyebanji secured a total of 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rivals in the contest conducted across the state’s 16 local government areas, reports Channels TV.
Addressing party faithful shortly after his victory on Sunday, the governor described the outcome of the primary as a renewed mandate to deepen the developmental strides recorded by his administration and deliver greater prosperity to the people of the state.
Declaring that “the best has just begun”, Oyebanji said the victory would serve as motivation for his administration to work with greater urgency in implementing policies and programmes designed to improve the quality of life of Ekiti residents.
“We will rededicate ourselves even more strongly to implementing a sharp prosperity agenda. We will speed up various projects and programmes that are ongoing. We will work harder and smarter to serve you better,” the governor said.
He stressed that the ultimate goal of his administration remained the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequality, noting that development would only be meaningful when it translated into improved living conditions for ordinary citizens.
“We will not relent until poverty and inequality become things of the past in our land,” he stated.
The governor dedicated the victory to the people of Ekiti State, describing the outcome as a reflection of public confidence in the direction of his administration.
He pledged that the trust put in him would not be taken for granted and assured residents that the government would remain focused on delivering impactful projects across critical sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and youth empowerment.
Oyebanji also used the occasion to express profound gratitude to leaders of the APC at the national, state, and grassroots levels for their support before, during, and after the election.
He specifically acknowledged members of the National Campaign Council, chaired by Uba Sani, for what he described as their dedication and strategic guidance throughout the campaign process.
The governor also paid tribute to the State Campaign Council led by Opeyemi Bamidele, commending its members for mobilising support and ensuring a successful outing at the polls.
According to him, the victory would not have been possible without the commitment of numerous support groups, volunteers, and independent campaigners who traversed communities across the state to canvass support for his candidacy.
Beyond party structures, Oyebanji extended appreciation to key segments of society, including religious leaders, traditional rulers, labour unions, artisans and market women, who he credited with providing prayers, counsel and encouragement throughout the electoral process.
He noted that the support from these groups underscored the collective desire of Ekiti people for continuity, stability, and sustained development.
In a special recognition, the governor commended persons living with disabilities for their active participation in the election, describing their massive turnout as a demonstration of faith in his administration’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunities.
“I must specially commend the commitment of the community of people living with disabilities for coming out en masse to vote for us,” he said.
The governor also lauded security agencies, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other electoral personnel for their professionalism and dedication in ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process.
According to him, the successful conduct of the election demonstrated the strength of democratic institutions and the maturity of the state’s political culture.
He also acknowledged the solidarity extended to him by governors across the country, particularly members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, whose support he said contributed significantly to the success of his campaign.
As celebrations continued across parts of the state, Oyebanji maintained that the focus of his administration would remain on governance and service delivery, insisting that the confidence shown by party members and residents would be rewarded with even greater commitment to development.
BVAS Complaints, Irregularity Allegations
The election witnessed a mixture of orderly voting, technical challenges, and allegations of irregularities, even as observers and many voters commended security agencies for maintaining peace throughout much of the exercise.
INEC reported that all 2,445 polling units designated for the governorship election opened for voting.
According to the commission, 2,257 polling units, representing 92.31 per cent, opened on schedule before 8:30 a.m., while 188 polling units, accounting for 7.69 per cent, experienced minor delays but commenced voting before 10:30 a.m.
The Commission also commenced the upload of polling unit results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) after voting and counting ended in several locations.
After voting during the election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Oluwole Oluyede, expressed dissatisfaction with developments at Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area.
Speaking to journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 006, he alleged that many voters were unable to vote because of problems associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He also alleged voter harassment and intimidation at the ward.
Earlier, elderly voters at the same polling unit had expressed frustration after being unable to complete accreditation due to BVAS challenges and called on INEC to urgently rectify the situation.
The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dare Bejide, also alleged irregularities during the election.
However, Oyebanji rejected the allegations.
The governor told journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi-Ekiti, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, that anyone making such allegations must substantiate them with evidence.
He described the conduct of the election as satisfactory and encouraged eligible voters who had not yet voted to come out peacefully and perform their civic duty.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Security, Abayomi Shogunle, said that no case of vote-buying was reported to the agency.
Voting ended before 3 p.m. in many polling units, after which sorting and counting of ballots commenced. At Polling Unit 008, Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area, sorting and counting began at about 2:37 p.m.
However, the exercise became rowdy as party agents and supporters disagreed over the validity of certain ballot papers.
At Polling Unit 006, where the PDP candidate voted, voting was still ongoing as of 4 p.m. because some voters insisted on exercising their franchise despite earlier delays.
The situation later became disorderly, prompting security personnel to intervene and restore calm.
