APC with the win has now retained power in the state and Oyebanji who was the SSG will take over from his principal and incumbent Kayode Fayemi
By Kehinde Okeowo
The citizens of Ekiti State have expressed mixed reactions to the emergence of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Biodun Oyebanji, in the Ekiti State governorship election held Saturday, June 18.
Sixteen of the eighteen parties registered but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) took part in the stand-alone election, which many believe has ramifications for the upcoming 2023 general election.
Oyebanji of the APC scored a total of 187,057 votes to defeat his two closest challengers, Social Democratic Party, SDP’s Segun Oni, who polled 82,211 votes.
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Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came third with a total of 67,457 votes.
TheNiche went to town to find out how the electorates in the state see the landslide victory of the APC, which may have consequences for the 2023 general election.
A businesswoman, who identified herself as Oladipo Omodunke said she did not vote on the Election Day because she registered in Ibadan, Oyo State.
She, however, expressed shock at the outcome of the election, because her understanding was that the people of the state preferred Segun Oni of the SDP.
She said, ” I registered in Ibadan, so I am not eligible to vote in Ekiti, but the people on the ground told me they prefer Segun Oni, so the outcome of the election is a big surprise to me and some others.
” But I wish Oyebanji the best, he should try and bring everyone together now that he has won.”
Another Ekiti State citizen, Bukola Dawodu who is a teacher, said the victory was expected because APC is the party in power, she, however, said she was not expecting a landslide victory.
” I am a secondary teacher but I won’t tell you who I voted for in this election, (laughing). I knew Oyebanji was going to win given the incumbency factor.
“What I will say though, is that I was not expecting the difference in the margin between the three major candidates.’ Dawodu said.
A resident of the state, Tope Igbalajobi, who is an artist said he believed the margin recorded between the first two candidates was a direct consequence of the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is a Yoruba man.
He went on to say the contest would have been much closer but for the emergence of a Yoruba son in the APC presidential primary.
In his words, ” Prior to the election, I think it was a close contest. Things probably changed when Bola Tinubu, who is a Yoruba son emerged as the APC candidate.
“The people of Ekiti State feel the election will be consequential to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election and needed to make a statement.”
“Let me state that it’s not just about Tinubu as a person, but the emergence of a Yoruba man.”
The ruling All Progressives Congress with the win has now retained power in the state and Oyebanji who was the Secretary to Ekiti State Government will take over from his former principal and incumbent Kayode Fayemi in October.
