Oyebanji Wins Re-election in Ekiti, Calls for Unity

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has secured a second term in office, winning re-election in a landslide victory that saw him triumph in all 16 local government areas of the state. Oyebanji, the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner early Sunday morning by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chief Returning Officer, Professor Adenike Oladiji.

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The election is over and governance must now take precedence.

In his victory speech delivered in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Oyebanji extended a conciliatory gesture to his opponents, including Wole Oluyede of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). "The election is over and governance must now take precedence," Oyebanji stated, emphasizing his commitment to working collaboratively for the state's progress. He revealed that he had already personally contacted Oluyede and Bejide and planned further discussions, noting, "We are all stakeholders in the progress of our dear state."

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I have called them personally, and discussions are ongoing. The election is over. What is important now is how we move Ekiti State forward together. We are all stakeholders in the progress of our dear state.

Oyebanji's victory marks a historic achievement, making him the first governor in Ekiti State's history to win a consecutive election. He garnered 319,224 votes, significantly outperforming Oluyede, who received 40,543 votes, and Bejide, who secured 12,872 votes. The governor viewed his win as a clear validation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration and a testament to the confidence the Ekiti people have in both his government and the president's leadership.

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The people of Ekiti have spoken loudly and unequivocally. They have spoken not in muffled voices but in a thunderous roar. We have heard them clearly, and we accept the challenge that this historic mandate has placed on our shoulders.

"The people of Ekiti have spoken loudly and unequivocally. They have spoken not in muffled voices but in a thunderous roar," Oyebanji declared, accepting the mandate. He characterized the election result not just as a political triumph but as a significant transformation in the state's political culture, celebrating the peaceful conduct of the election in contrast to previous cycles often marred by violence and tension. "Ekiti has demonstrated that peace, consensus-building, and democratic maturity can triumph over violence and division," he added.

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This is not just a watershed moment; it is a remarkable transformation in our political culture. Unlike previous electoral cycles marked by violence and tension, this election was conducted peacefully, with no incidents of violence. Ekiti has demonstrated that peace, consensus-building, and democratic maturity can triumph over violence and division.