Tinubu Hails Oyebanji’s Ekiti Re-Election, Urges Opposition To Rally Round Governor

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji on his re-election, urging opposition parties and other contestants to rally round the governor after Saturday’s poll.

Tinubu’s message was issued on Sunday through his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Oyebanji winner of the Ekiti governorship election.

According to Channels Television, the President described the result as a vote for continuity and asked Oyebanji to be magnanimous in victory as he begins another four-year mandate.

“President Tinubu urges Governor Oyebanji to remain magnanimous in victory and to carry all Ekiti people along as he consolidates on his achievements in the next four years,” Onanuga said in the statement.

The President also appealed to candidates who contested against the governor to put the election behind them and support the state government. Onanuga said Tinubu told them it was time to rally round Oyebanji in the task of taking Ekiti to the next level of governance.

Premium Times reported that Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Wole Oluyede, scored 40,543 votes. The African Democratic Congress candidate, Oluwadare Bejide, came third with 12,872 votes.

The All Progressives Congress also congratulated the governor, saying through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, that the result showed confidence in Oyebanji’s first-term record and the party’s programme in the state.

Tinubu commended voters, security agencies and INEC for what he described as a largely peaceful exercise, while urging the electoral commission to keep improving ahead of the Osun governorship election and next year’s general election.

Sources: Channels Television, Premium Times