Ekiti State Governor-elect, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, on Sunday, declared a new dawn in Ekiti, while accepting the result of Saturday’s election.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate defeated ex-Governor Segun Oni and Mr. Bisi Kolawole, candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respectively.
He won in 15 of the 16 local government areas. The PDP candidate won in one but Oni who scored the second highest number of votes did not win in any local government area.
Oyebanji, who is due to take office in October, had his first activities as governor-elect by receiving a delegation of APC governors and embarking on a road show with Deputy Governor-elect Mrs. Monisade Afuye yesterday.
Savouring the joy of victory, he promised to build on the legacies of his predecessors and accelerate socio-economic and political development of the state.
Speaking from his Ikogosi residence, Oyebanji promised to preside over a government of inclusion that would tap from the talents of the vast stakeholders.
Meawhile, in their congratulatory messages to Oyebanji, President Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governors Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), said his victory symbolised the acceptance of the ruling party by Nigerians. The party leaders urged Oyebanji to work hard to surpass his predecessor Governor Kayode Fayemi’s achievements.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Kolawole, conceded defeat, wishing Oyebanji God’s guidance.
But, SDP candidate Oni rejected the outcome of the results as lacking credibility.
Fayemi led Kebbi State Governor Bagudu and his Jigawa State counterpart, Abubakar Badaru to meet Oyebanji at Ikogosi.
Minister of Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, joined them. Also there was APC National Women Leader, Dr. Betta Edu.
Bagudu, who described Oyebanji as a humble, experienced and hardworking technocrat, urged him to sustain the tempo of performance which has become the legacy of Fayemi.
He described the victory of the governor-elect as a reward for character.
Bagudu also praised Fayemi for his achievements, saying his feats made it easy for Oyebanji to win.
Fayemi admonished Oyebanji to move close to other progressive governors for training and tutorials. He said under Oyebanji, there will be no abandoned project. He also said the governor-elect would reposition the Ikogosi Tourist Resort.
The governor-elect said he was greatly humbled by the victory, describing Fayemi as his benefactor and godfather, and ex-Governor Adebayo as his grandfather.
He said while he held three positions – Special Assistant, Special Adviser, and Chief of Staff – under Adebayo, he also held three positions under Fayemi, which are Commissioner, Director of Office of Transformation and Secretary to the State Government.
Oyebanji said although Fayemi will be leaving the Progressive Governors’ Forum in October, he will go to Bagudu, Badaru and other members for training and tutorials.
