Gov. Oyebanji receives certificate of return from INEC

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

Ado‑Ekiti—Biodun Oyebanji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate who won the recently concluded governorship election, has been presented with his Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He pledged to deepen good governance and accelerate sustainable development across Ekiti State.

INEC’s National Commissioner for Oyo, Ekiti and Osun, Sam Olumekun, handed the certificate to Governor Oyebanji during a brief ceremony at the INEC State Office in the state capital.

Chief Monisade Afuye, Oyebanji’s running mate and the incumbent Deputy Governor, also received her certificate at the event.

After the election, INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, declared Oyebanji the winner of Saturday’s poll. He secured 319,224 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Dr. Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 40,543 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Ambassador Dare Bejide, came a distant third with 12,872 votes.

Shortly after receiving the certificate, Governor Oyebanji, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, expressed deep gratitude to the people of Ekiti for renewing his mandate. He described the election result as a strong vote of confidence in his administration.

In his remarks, the Governor said his second term would focus on consolidating existing achievements while implementing policies to improve citizens’ welfare, stimulate economic growth and strengthen infrastructure across the state.

He praised INEC, security agencies and electoral officials for their professionalism and commitment to delivering a peaceful, free and credible election, noting significant improvements following amendments to the Electoral Act.

Governor Oyebanji also lauded the people of Ekiti for their peaceful conduct before, during and after the election, emphasizing that the victory belongs to all residents. He called on other contestants to join hands with his administration to advance Ekiti’s development.

“Let me first appreciate God for His faithfulness; today would not have been possible without Him. After God, I must acknowledge the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly for his courage in signing the new Electoral Act into law,” he said.

“This election is the first to be conducted under the amended Electoral Act, and the improvement in INEC’s performance is evident. The Commission deserves commendation for its professionalism, fairness and transparency. I also commend the security agencies and the good people of Ekiti for ensuring a peaceful process. As a state just 29 years old, this stands as one of our most peaceful elections, reflecting the positive reforms shaping our political culture.”

Earlier, National Commissioner Olumekun praised the peaceful conduct of Ekiti residents and described the election as a model of democratic practice. He thanked security agencies and stakeholders for their roles in the successful conduct of the poll and reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy through credible and inclusive elections.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, congratulated Governor Oyebanji on his victory, noting that the Certificate of Return symbolizes not only electoral success but also the trust and expectations placed on him by the people.