Victor EzejaThe off-season gubernatorial election in Ekiti State has been concluded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring former secretary to the state government Biodun Oyebanji as winner of the polls.
This was declared by the returning officer of the election, Prof Kayode Adebowale who announced the results in the early hours of Sunday.
Oyebanji who contested under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 187,057 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Segun Oni, of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who scored 82,211 votes. Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored 67,457 votes. 13 other political parties also participated in the governorship election on Saturday.
According to Adebowale who is also the vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Oyebanji was declared winner having satisfied all requirements for the elections.
He said, “Oyebanji, having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and returned elected as the governor-elect of Ekiti State.”
There were cases of vote-buying in different parts of the state during the exercise with operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly arresting some individuals at some polling stations in connection to that. One of the agents of ADP, was reported to have said that what they had was vote-buying centres instead of polling centres.
Jubilation In APC Camp
Members of the rulling party in the state reportedly trooped out of the streets in n the middle of the night when the result was announced to celebrate the victory, especially, in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. This was also the case in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area, where Oyebanji hails from, as residents also began celebrating the victory of their kinsman at the poll.
What To Know About New Ekiti Governor-elect Oyebanji
Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji who hails from Ikogosi-Ekiti is a politician and academic and public servant.
Born on December 21, 1967, Oyebanji had his primary education at Baptist Primary School, and Awo Community High School, before moving to CAC Grammar School in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State in 1979.
Between 1983 and 1985, he attended the Federal School of Arts and Science in Ondo State and the District Commercial Secondary School in Aramoko-Ekiti.
In 1989, he earned a degree in Political Science from Ondo State University, currently known as Ekiti State University, and Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan in 1992.
From 1993 to 1997, Oyebanji worked as lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Ado-Ekiti.
Leaving academic work, became manager of Treasury, and Financial Services at the defunct Omega Bank Plc (now Heritage Bank) till May 1999.
Prior to running for the office of state governor, he was the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government (SSG) under Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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