President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ekiti State governorship election, Mr Kayode Fayemi, for his victory at the poll.
“The President commends the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and all party supporters for the hard-fought victory after a dignified campaign,” the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said in a statement on Sunday.
Dr Fayemi had been declared the winner of the Ekiti Governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) earlier in the morning after he outpolled the Deputy governor of the state, Professor Kolapo Olusola of the PDP, and others in the race to succeed Governor Ayodele Fayose.
READ ALSO: INEC Declares Kayode Fayemi Winner Of Ekiti Governorship Election
After a close and bitter contest, President Buhari expects Dr Fayemi to be magnanimous in victory as he prepares “to unfold a new lease of life for the people of Ekiti State through purposeful and responsible governance”.
With key participants locked in a war of words and trading accusations freely even into the election, many were afraid the exercise would degenerate into widespread violence, but it did not.
Although there was heavy security presence in the state for the poll, the President hailed the people for how they conducted themselves; for “their matured and peaceful conduct as they made their choice using the power of the ballot”.
President Buhari also praised INEC and security agencies for making adequate preparations, displaying impartiality and creating the right atmosphere for the relatively peaceful conduct of the polls.
The President urged the losers to be gallant in conceding defeat and use constitutional means to settle whatever grievances they might have rather than resort to self-help.
Close contest
Saturday’s election was a close contest with the APC looking to take control of the only state in the South-West that was led by the PDP, while Dr Fayemi was looking to finally win a second term after his shocking loss to Governor Fayose in 2014.
In contrast with the drama-filled campaigns that led to it, the election proper started smoothly and there were few reports of violence, ballot snatching and cancellation of votes by the time the collation of results got into full swing.
Late into the process, many could not tell which way the results would swing.
But by the time results for the first few local government areas were announced Fayemi had taken an early lead.
He never relinquished it, going on to secure 197,459 votes, 19,338 more than the 178,121 Olusola got.
That was enough and the Chief Returning Officer for the election, Professor Olayinka Idowu, proceeded to return him as the winner.
He declared “that John Olukayode Fayemi of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected”.
As reactions pour in from key participants in the poll and Nigerians in general, President Buhari says democracy is the real winner.
“In all this, the people of Ekiti State have spoken loud and clear, and democracy has won again,” he said.
