Oyebanji Sweeps Ekiti Governorship Poll, Declared Govenor-Elect

 

— Wins 15 out of 16 councils

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the 2022 Ekiti governorship election.

 

Mr Oyebanji polled a total of 187,057 votes to defeat his two closest challengers – Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bisi Kolawole of the People’s Democratic Party.

 

The SDP emerged in second place with total votes of 82,211 while the PDP was third with 67,457 votes.

 

Oyebanji, who was the former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, to governor Kayode Fayemi, won in 15 out of the 16 council areas of the state.

 

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, who was the former state Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi kolawole won only his Efon Alaye council area.

 

The former governor of the state and the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Segun Ojo who lost in his ldo- Osi council area to the ruling APC, did not win any council. He only won in his unit and ward.

 

Mr Oyebanji is now set to replace incumbent Kayode Fayemi in October.

 

“No society can grow greater than the vision and dream of its leader,” Oyebanji said during last week’s Ekiti governorship debate, one of his final public appeals to voters.

 

“I am offering myself to lead our people into a prosperous society.

 

“I am bringing to the table 11 years of experience in the public service at the state level, two years at the federal level.

 

“I am going to aggregate the best brains of Ekiti all over the world to help me achieve my dreams.”

 

The election, which was marred with reports of vote buying and violence, was largely peaceful, independent observers said.

 

Vote buying

According to INEC, 988,923 registered voters were expected to participate in the exercise.

 

However, only 363,438 voters were accredited.

 

The polls officially opened at around 8:30am (WAT) on Saturday and was expected to close at 2:30 pm (WAT).

 

Some voters who stormed polling units to exercise their franchise vowed not to sell their votes.

 

“Ekiti is a state of professors . . . we are not illiterates,” one electorate said.

 

But reports of massive vote buying soon surfaced, prompting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to embark on a raid and make some arrests.

 

Some voters were also sighted scrambling for money during the election.

 

“I’ve received reports of vote buying in Ado and Oye,” Oni, the SDP candidate, said.

 

The final results -:

 

 

1*** IREPODUN / lFELODUN LG

 

APC- 13,125

PDP- 4,712

SDP- 5010

 

2*** IDO – OSI LG

 

APC- 10,321

PDP- 2,871

SDP- 9,489- Party’s candidate, Segun Oni lost in his council area

 

3**ISE-ORUN LG

 

APC- 8074

PDP-2588

SDP-5909

 

4** OYE LG

 

APC-13,396

PDP-4122

SDP-5391

 

5***EKITI SOUTH WEST LG

 

APC-9679

PDP-4474

SDP-4577

 

6*** EKITI WEST LG

APC-15,322 – Party’s candidate, Biodun Oyebanji won his council area

PDP -3386

SDP-3863

 

7***EFON LG

 

APC-4012

 

PDP-6303– Party’s candidate, Bisi kolawole, won his council area.

SDP-339

 

8***EMURE LG

 

APC-7728

PDP-2610

SDP-3445

 

9*** IJERO LG

 

APC – 13754

PDP – 4897

SDP – 5006

 

10 *** IKERE LG

 

APC – 12086

PDP – 3789

SDP – 1943

ADC – 3764

 

11***ILEJEMEJE LG

 

APC – 4357

PDP -1157

SDP – 2344

 

12*** MOBA LG

 

APC – 11609

PDP – 3530

SDP – 4904

 

13**** ADO-EKITI

 

APC – 23831

PDP – 7575

SDP – 15214

 

14****IKOLE LGA

 

APC – 16417

PDP – 6266

SDP – 5736

 

15***GBONYIN LGA

 

APC – 11247

PDP – 3947

SDP – 4059

 

16***EKITI EAST LGA

 

APC…..12, 099

PDP…..5, 230

SDP…..4, 982