Ekiti Gubernatorial Election Was Peacefully Conducted – Oyebanji

Ekiti Gubernatorial Election Was Peacefully Conducted – Oyebanji

The Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has stated that the just concluded Ekiti governorship election was peacefully conducted.

In a statement released on Sunday, Oyebanji said the people of Ekiti on Saturday decided on who becomes the next governor of the state and elected him to be the chosen one.

He expressed his gratitude to the voters who voted for his party and also recognise all those who did not vote for the APC but participated in the electoral process.

Oyebanji also thanked all other aspirants and their respective political parties for the dignified way they carried out their campaigns, and for contributing to the credibility of the process.

He appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari; the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; the NWC and the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the victory.

He said: “The June 18, 2022 Ekiti gubernatorial election was peacefully conducted in the state with a large turnout of eligible voters who freely voted for their preferred candidates and parties. Yesterday, Ekiti Kete spoke, and your collective voice was heard. It was unequivocal and unprecedented – history making in many ways. Earlier today, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially announced that my party the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured the majority of votes and fulfilled all conditions, effectively affirming your choice and returning me, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as your Governor-Elect, and Chief Mrs. Monisade Afuye as your Deputy Governor-Elect.

“I, together with Chief Mrs. Afuye, use this opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone who voted for us. We also recognise all those who did not vote for us, but whose participation in this important democratic ritual of the election enriched the process, especially with the gracious manner in which you accepted the outcome, and helped maintain the peace during and after the exercise. We are hopeful that though we did not have your vote at this time, we would earn your trust and cooperation as we begin the journey of ‘Keeping Ekiti working’.

“Ekiti Kete, we are grateful for the privilege you have given to us to bear your sacred mandate at this crucial time in history. We recognise that on October 16, 2022 when by the grace of God we would be inaugurated into office, we are expected to immediately start to build on the legacies of those who came before us, and honourably govern our state in trust for the generations coming after us. It is a duty we campaigned for, and accept with all solemnity and responsibility. In keeping with our covenant with you, we will work ‘Together With You, to Keep Ekiti Working.’

“I thank all other aspirants and their respective political parties for the dignified way they carried out their campaigns, and for contributing to the credibility of the process. I will be seeking audience with you all in the coming days, benefitting from your wealth of ideas on how to develop our dear state – to complement our vision and blueprint for the accelerated development of Ekiti. You have all performed creditably and earned places of honour in the history of our state.

“I thank our leaders: our dear president H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR; the national chairman of our great party the APC; Senator Abdullahi Adamu; as well as our presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this well-deserved victory for our party you supported us to achieve, and which hopefully signals what to expect in Osun State next month and the general elections next year.

“I thank all members of the National Working Committee of our party; I thank the Progressives Governors Forum; and the Chairman of the Ekiti Gubernatorial Campaign Council, H.E. Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, as well as all members of the council, for graciously supporting us to achieve this crucial victory.

“I thank our leaders, H.E. Otunba Niyi Adebayo, CON, Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, and former Governor of Ekiti State; H.E. Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON, Governor of Ekiti State, and H.E. Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, for their leadership, and for laying a foundation for us to build upon. I also thank H.E. Erelu Bisi Fayemi, First Lady of Ekiti State for your immense contributions to the success we have collectively achieved.

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