Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye, on Tuesday received their Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officially confirming their victory in the June 20 governorship election and paving the way for a second term in office.
The presentation ceremony, held in Ado-Ekiti, marked the final stage of the electoral process that returned Oyebanji to power for another four years.
The victory is considered historic, as it makes him the first governor since the creation of Ekiti State in 1996 to win re-election for a consecutive second term through the ballot.
INEC National Commissioner overseeing Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos states, Sam Olumekun, described the election as peaceful, credible and reflective of the wishes of Ekiti voters.
He commended residents, political parties, election officials, security agencies, civil society organisations and media practitioners for their contributions to the successful conduct of the poll.
According to Olumekun, the election underscored the commitment of Ekiti people to democratic values and peaceful participation in the political process.
“Today’s event marks the formal conclusion of one phase of the electoral process and the beginning of another important phase in the democratic governance of the state,” he said.
While congratulating the governor and his deputy, Olumekun urged them to see the certificates as more than symbols of electoral success, stressing that they represent a mandate entrusted to them by the people of the state.
Both officials are scheduled to be inaugurated for another term on October 16.
Oyebanji secured a sweeping victory in the election, defeating 13 other candidates and polling 319,224 votes across the state’s 16 local government areas.
His closest rival, Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party, garnered 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress finished third with 12,872 votes.
Despite the decisive outcome, the ADC candidate rejected the result, alleging widespread vote-buying during the election.
Bejide said his party would determine its next course of action after reviewing the conduct of the poll and the declared results.
Similarly, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) raised concerns over alleged vote-buying, inconsistencies in sensitive election materials and malfunctioning voter accreditation devices observed during the exercise.
However, political analysts have described the election as one of the most emphatic governorship victories recorded in the state since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.
Oyebanji’s re-election breaks a long-standing political pattern in Ekiti, where incumbent governors had repeatedly failed to secure consecutive second terms.
Former governors, including Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi, either lost re-election bids, left office before completing their tenures, or returned to office only after breaks between terms.
Observers attributed Oyebanji’s victory to his broad political support base, endorsements from influential stakeholders, including former governors, and what many described as his popularity across party lines.
Speaking after receiving the certificate, Oyebanji expressed appreciation to Ekiti residents, political leaders, party supporters and INEC officials for ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
The governor also called for unity among political actors, urging them to move beyond the election and work collectively for the development of the state.
“The election is over; now is the time to work together for the development of our state,” he said, while pledging to sustain policies and programmes aimed at improving infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and economic growth.
Ekiti Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, described the governorship election as one of the most peaceful ever conducted in the state.
He noted that preparations for the poll began nearly a year earlier with the publication of the election timetable and commended election personnel for their professionalism and dedication.
Omoseyindemi added that the exercise demonstrated improvements in electoral administration and reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to strengthening future elections across the country.
