Ekiti State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Biodun Oyebanji, has reached out to his opponents after winning Saturday's election. He called it a gesture of “hands of fellowship,” saying the election is done and it's time to focus on governance.
The governor spoke during his victory speech in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of the state, on Sunday.
Mr Oyebanji beat 13 other candidates to win the off-cycle election.
INEC Chief Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Adenike Oladiji, a professor, announced the results around 3 a.m. on Sunday. The governor received 319,224 votes, defeating Wole Oluyede of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who got 40,543 votes, a distant second.
Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 12,872 votes.
Mr Oyebanji won all 16 local government areas in the state. This makes him the first governor in Ekiti's history to win consecutive elections.
He mentioned that he has already reached out to Messrs Oluyede and Bejide and plans to continue discussions for the state’s benefit. The governor said he would meet with them later on Sunday.
“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,” he said.
The governor viewed his victory in the recent governorship election as a strong endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. He said the election results show that the people of Ekiti have faith in both his leadership and the president's.
Mr Oyebanji mentioned that the clear mandate given to him by voters was both humbling and a strong confirmation of his administration's achievements over the past four years, along with the reforms happening at the federal level under President Tinubu.
“As you are aware, the electoral umpire, through its Returning Officer, has announced me as the winner of the 2026 governorship election. 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,” he said.
Mr Oyebanji claimed the election results are more than just a political win. They reflect a big change in the state's political culture, showing that peace, consensus, and democracy can win over violence and division.
“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 politics can be conducted in an atmosphere of harmony, civility and mutual respect,” he stated.
The governor believes his re-election comes from the trust the people have in his government. He stressed that Ekiti voters are smart and can evaluate performance to make informed decisions.
“By October, Ekiti will be 30 years old. This is the first time in our history that a sitting governor will be re-elected back-to-back. Ekiti people are politically enlightened. They know what works for them, and they know when to change a government that is not performing. If they have chosen to re-employ us, it means we are doing something right,” he said.
Mr Oyebanji explained that his victory is due to the careful implementation of his administration’s six-pillar development plan, which he said has positively changed the lives of residents.
According to him, “We entered into a contract with the people based on our six pillars of governance. Over the last four years, we have faithfully implemented programmes and projects across these thematic areas.
“The people have seen the difference, and they have renewed our mandate. They have decided that there is no reason to abandon a team that is delivering value.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 presidential election, Mr Oyebanji expressed confidence that the support shown by Ekiti voters will be repeated for Mr Tinubu when Nigerians vote again.
“This victory is a validation of the President’s administration and a vote of confidence in his leadership by the people of Ekiti. I do not doubt that an even better outcome will be recorded for him in Ekiti during the 2027 presidential election,” he stated.
Mr Oyebanji also praised INEC, security agencies, election observers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, labour unions, artisans, market women, persons living with disabilities and party supporters for their roles in the success of the election.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇