Ekiti State Governor, Oyebanji, has described his re-election for a second term as a humbling vote of confidence from the people of the state, pledging to deepen development and ensure the benefits of governance reach every household.

In a statement issued after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of Saturday’s governorship election, Oyebanji said the people of Ekiti had spoken with one voice in support of continuity, stability and development.

“The voice of the people has reverberated from every part of our great state, and the message is clear.

“I am deeply humbled by the scale of this victory. Securing a clean sweep across all 16 local government areas and 85 per cent of the popular vote is a humbling vote of confidence from Ekiti Kete.

“From our urban centres to our most remote communities, you have spoken with one thunderous voice for continuous development, stability and a future of endless opportunities.

“This mandate means that our work must touch every household even deeper. There are no winners or losers today; there is only one united Ekiti determined to continue its journey of upward mobility.

“I pledge to honour this immense trust by continuing to lead with humility, dedication and fairness.

“Thank you, Ekiti Kete, for making history with us,” the governor wrote on X.

INEC’s Returning Officer for the election, Professor Adenike Oladiji, announced the result at about 3:13 a.m. on Sunday, declaring Oyebanji winner after polling 319,224 votes in the contest conducted across the state’s 16 local government areas.

Oladiji, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, said the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oluwole Oluyede, secured 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 12,872 votes.

She further disclosed that 384,940 voters were accredited for the election, while 375,777 valid votes were recorded.

According to her, 6,332 votes were rejected, bringing the total number of votes cast to 382,109.

The declaration brought to a close the closely watched governorship election, in which voters across Ekiti State turned out on Saturday to elect a governor in a generally peaceful atmosphere, despite reports of technical challenges and allegations of irregularities in some locations. (Channels TV)

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