Oyebanji, Deputy Receive Certificates After Winning Second Term Election

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State and his deputy, Monisade Afuye, received their Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday. This confirms their victory in the governorship election held on 20 June, allowing them to serve another term in office.

The ceremony took place in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. It marks the end of the election process that brought Mr Oyebanji back to power. He is now the first governor since Ekiti was created in 1996 to win a second term election consecutively.

At the event, the INEC National Commissioner for Ekiti, Oyo, and Lagos states, Sam Olumekun, called the election peaceful, credible, and a true reflection of the voters' wishes. He praised voters, political parties, election officials, security agencies, civil society groups, and the media for their contributions to the election.

Mr Olumekun stated that the election showed how committed Ekiti residents are to democracy 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," he said.

He urged the governor and deputy governor, who will be sworn in on 16 October, to see the certificates as more than just symbols of victory. They should remind them of the trust the people placed in them.

For Mr Oyebanji, the ceremony is a significant milestone in his political journey. He won the election by defeating 13 other candidates, getting 319,224 votes across the state's 16 local government areas.

His closest rival, Wole Oluyede from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), got 40,543 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dare Bejide, came in third with 12,872 votes. However, Bejide has rejected the election results, claiming it involved widespread vote-buying. He plans to discuss the results with his party and decide his next steps.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), a civil society group focused on democracy, also raised concerns about vote-buying and issues with election materials and voting devices during the governorship election.

Even with these issues, many see Mr Oyebanji's win as one of the clearest victories in Ekiti since Nigeria returned to democracy. His victory breaks a political trend where no incumbent governor had won re-election in Ekiti since its formation.

Former governors like Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, Segun Oni, and Kayode Fayemi either left office early or lost re-election attempts. Only Fayemi and Fayose managed to return to power after losing their first terms.

Mr Oyebanji's victory is significant because it is the first time an incumbent governor has won a second consecutive term in the state. Political analysts believe this result came from strong political alliances and support from former governors, as well as Mr Oyebanji's popularity.

During the event, Mr Oyebanji expressed gratitude to voters, political leaders, party supporters, and INEC officials for the peaceful election. He also called for unity among his opponents to work together for the state’s progress.

He stressed that the election should not divide the people of Ekiti and encouraged everyone to move forward for development. He praised INEC for a professional and transparent election and expressed hope that lessons learned would improve 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 promised to focus on inclusive governance and continue improving infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and economic development.

The Ekiti Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, described the election as one of the most peaceful in the state. He noted that preparations started about a year ago with the election notice publication and praised election officials for their professionalism.

"The journey has continued, but it is my joy to note that INEC overcame all challenges to conduct a fair and committed election," Omoseyindemi stated. He added that the election showed great improvements in electoral management and demonstrated INEC's commitment to credible elections in Nigeria.