Jubril Bada

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has congratulated his Ondo State counterpart, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on his victory at Saturday’s governorship election.

Aiyedatiwa, who was the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16, 2024 election, was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shortly after the conclusion of collation of results on Sunday.

Oyebanji in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, described the electoral triumph of Governor Aiyedatiwa as an endorsement of good governance under the APC administration in Ondo State as well as a vote of confidence in the leadership of the President, Bola Tinubu.

He expressed gratitude to the electorate in Ondo State for keeping their trust in the ruling party, noting that the APC, has recorded verifiable indices of good governance since the party came to power in the neighbouring state in 2016.

The governor pointed out that the victory recorded by Aiyedatiwa and the APC has put a fresh challenge on the Ondo Governor to do more for the people of the state who defied the odds to give him a fresh mandate.

He said the electoral victory shows that Nigerians appreciate the leadership of President Tinubu and have unwavering confidence that the current socioeconomic policies and programmes of the government would yield the desired results, leading to irreversible progress, development and economic prosperity for all.

He commended the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; the Progressive Governors’ Forum, the party’s National Campaign Council, National Assembly members, elected and appointed political office, holders and the entire party faithful for their hard work which contributed to the electoral success.

Oyebanji hailed the people of Ondo State for conducting themselves in peaceful and orderly manner which resulted in the overall success of the governorship poll across the length and breadth of the state.

He specifically commended  indigenes of Ekiti State resident in Ondo State for heeding his clarion to use their votes to retain Governor Aiyedatiwa in office expressing optimism that they would reap the bountiful harvest of good governance from the new administration.

The Ekiti State governor also praised the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the improvements recorded in the Ondo poll especially in prompt release of result from the polling units and the collation exercise.

Oyebanji further commended the security agencies for their professionalism, which  according to him, contributed largely to the peaceful conduct of the election from the commencement of voting exercise till the official declaration of results.

He urged the newly elected governor to remain magnanimous in victory and reach out to his opponents in the election with a view to working with them to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

“On behalf of the government and good people of Ekiti State, I congratulate my dear brother, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa on this well deserved victory. While wishing him a successful tenure, we look forward to a more strategic partnership with his administration for the benefit of the citizens of the two sister states,” he said.