.Victory Confirms Nigerians Acceptance of APC – Buhari, Ahmad

.SDP, ADP Reject Result, Vows to Challenge Outcome in Court

By Mathew Dadiya and Umar Idris, Abuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State and at the federal level has retained its hold on Ekiti State with Mr Biodun Oyebanji, the party’s governorship candidate in the Saturday election emerging victorious over his major rivals from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Victory in Ekiti Election Confirms Nigerians Acceptance of APC  – Buhari, Ahmad

Following the outcome of the election, President Buhari congratulated Oyebanji, stating that his victory affirmed APC’s acceptance.

The President in a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina on Sunday said the victory was well-deserved considering Oyebanji’s contributions to the development of Ekiti State and the party, before his nomination as the standard-bearer.

The president urged the governor-elect to be magnanimous in victory in the interest of the people of the State. 

Buhari also rejoiced with the APC chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, and the National Working Committee for the victory, the first under the tenure of the new executives of the party.  

“This is a good beginning for you and your team. The APC is getting stronger and more united. The victory of our party in Ekiti is an indication of the confidence of Nigerians in the ability of our great party to deliver quality governance to all,” the President said.

He charged all APC members across and outside the country to see this as a good omen for the 2023 general elections and work assiduously to ensure the party’s victory, continuing the trend with Osun State next month in July. 

Buhari also felicitated the people of Ekiti State for the smooth conduct of the election, affirming that they are the real victors as they have been able to freely choose their leader for the next four years. 

He lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission and the law enforcement agencies for the preparations put in place, urging them to keep the momentum for upcoming elections.

Similarly, the Senate President Dr. Ahmad Lawan, also congratulated  Mr. Oyebanji on his  victory in Saturday’s  governorship election in Ekiti.

Lawan in  a statement  by Mr Ola Awoniyi, his Special Adviser on Media on Sunday, also congratulated the APC, both at the state and national levels, the people of Ekiti on the peaceful and successful conduct of the poll.

The Senate President said the outcome of the election was a reflection of  the trust and confidence  Nigerians across the country had in the party.

According to him, the smooth conduct of the election is an indication of what to expect in 2023 general elections as democracy continues to grow firm roots in Nigeria under the APC government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Lawan  commended the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for delivering a poll  widely adjudged as free, fair, transparent and hitch-free.

He wishes the governor-elect God’s guidance as he prepares for the onerous task ahead.

SDP, ADP Reject Result, Vows to Challenge Election Outcome in Court

Chief Segun Oni, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP),
and Mrs Kemi Elebute-Halle, the candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP), on Sunday rejected the results of the Saturday’s governorship election, saying the outcome will be challenged at the tribunal.
Oni made this known on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, through Mr Owoseni Ajayi, his state collation agent and who was the Attorney-General of the state, while speaking with newsmen on the outcome of the election.
The SDP candidate said that the results, as declared by INEC, did not reflect the true decision of the people, lamenting that the process was allegedly marred by financial inducement.
Ajayi, who said he refused to sign the election results said, ” We are rejecting the results, because the election was characterised by violence and intimidation of voters.
“As a result, we will definitely challenge outcomes of these results in the court of law for posterity and generations coming to know that when conducting elections, you must follow the rules and procedures.”
Similarly, Mrs Kemi Elebute-Halle, the candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the election, said that the victory of Mr Biodun Oyebanji was “tainted with vote buying and corruption”.
Elebute-Halle, in a statement signed on her behalf by Mr Femi Eponlolaye, the State Chairman of the party in Ado-Ekiti, condemned the snatching of ballot boxes, vote buying and harassment of her party members.
According to her, political thugs and members of a party in Ado-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti and Ilasa-Ekiti, among other areas, attacked supporters of my party.
“The victory of Mr Biodun Oyebanji in the just concluded governorship election, ordinarily would have been accepted by me, if the election had not been fraught by electoral malpractices.
“In spite of various sensitisation programmes and media publicity against vote buying, the APC, PDP and SDP actually promoted and encouraged corruption, both at the grassroots and the state levels.
“Though, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pronounced Oyebanji as the winner of this election, I, Kemi Elebute-Halle, hereby reject the results of this election.
“It was not credible, neither was it free nor fair. His APC thugs distabilised my strongholds across the state, attacked our members, snatched and destroyed our ballot boxes.
“All those votes, including those obtained by PDP, will be cancelled at the tribunal.
“I want to use this medium to urge my followers not to be discouraged about the outcome of the election.
“We shall continue to promote our great party, the ADP,” she said.
Elebute-Halle, however, urged the international observers, the security agencies and INEC to continue to sensitise Ekiti electorate against vote buying that has eaten deep into the electoral process.
NAN reports that ADP polled 3,495 votes in the Saturday governorship election held in the state.