Governor Biodun Oyebanji has said his re-election is a fresh call to service, and promised to govern with courage, compassion, humility, and the fear of God.
Oyebanji, who was declared winner of the governorship election by INEC, said the renewed mandate placed a greater burden of responsibility on his administration to deliver more development and improve the welfare of the people.
The governor expressed appreciation to Ekiti people for their confidence in his government, saying he understands the weight of expectations that come with the overwhelming support given him in the election.
He stated, “I have a proper understanding of the responsibility that this victory has placed on my shoulders. It is a responsibility of service — service to the people of Ekiti State. I want to assure our people that we will continue to serve them with courage, compassion, humility and the fear of God.”
Oyebanji said his administration would continue to implement the state’s development agenda, while remaining open to new ideas and emerging priorities that can advance the growth and progress of the state.
According to him, the government already has a development blueprint that would guide its second-term programmes, and the focus would remain the comprehensive implementation of policies designed to benefit residents across the state.
However, Bejide, in his reaction to the election, said he and his party would not accept the result. He insisted that the exercise was not credible.
The ADC candidate alleged that vote-buying was carried out openly in several polling units, in addition to extensive cases of over-voting, alteration of results, and intimidation of voters and party supporters.
“My immediate reaction is to reject the result in its entirety because, in my view, the exercise conducted on Sunday was not credible,” Bejide said.
He alleged that political appointees and a serving senator brought thugs and security personnel to some polling units, including his own, creating what he described as a tense atmosphere.
Bejide further alleged that security personnel failed to take meaningful action despite being alerted to incidents of vote-buying and voter inducement in some locations.
He said ADC was still collating results from polling units and would determine its next line of action after reviewing the available evidence.
“We are currently collating the results available to us. Once we receive and analyse all the polling unit results, we will brief our party members and decide on the appropriate course of action,” he stated.
Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Aborisade, Segun Awofadeji, Gbenga Sodeinde and Francis Sardauna
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