By Law Ibitoye
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has described his re-election victory in Saturday’s governorship election as a strong endorsement of his administration’s performance, saying the outcome reflects the confidence of the people in his government’s policies and programmes.
Speaking with journalists at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti, on Sunday, the governor said voters made a conscious decision to renew his mandate after assessing the impact of his administration over the last four years.
Oyebanji attributed the victory to the successful implementation of his six-pillar development agenda, which he said had positively transformed key sectors of the state’s economy and improved the welfare of residents. According to him, the election result demonstrated that Ekiti people are politically aware and capable of making informed choices about their future.
The governor described the outcome as unprecedented, noting that his party recorded victories in virtually all polling units across the state. He said the widespread support reflected the acceptance of his administration’s policies and the trust reposed in his leadership by the electorate.
Responding to concerns about voter turnout, Oyebanji dismissed claims of voter apathy, arguing that encouraging citizen participation in elections is a collective responsibility that involves political parties, the media, civil society organisations and other stakeholders. He also said the result represented a vote of confidence in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose reforms, he noted, had enhanced the capacity of states to deliver development projects.
Oyebanji commended the peaceful conduct of the election, noting the absence of major incidents of violence during the campaign period and on election day. He pledged to use the renewed mandate to accelerate development, deepen his shared prosperity agenda and improve the welfare of Ekiti residents, while thanking voters, security agencies, INEC officials, election observers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and party supporters for their contributions to a successful electoral process.
