Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji has congratulated his Ondo State counterpart, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on his victory in Saturday’s Ondo governorship election.
The State Returning Officer, Prof Olayemi Akinwumi, who presented the final results of the elections, on Sunday, said Aiyedatiwa scored the majority of the valid votes at the poll and he subsequently returned him elected.
He said, “I, Professor Olayemi Durotimi Akinwunmi, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2024 Ondo State governorship election held on the 16th November 2024.
“That Aiyedatiwa Lucky Orimisan of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and governor-elect.”
Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, described Aiyedatiwa’s electoral triumph 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, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.”
The Ekiti governor expressed gratitude to the Ondo electorate for keeping their trust in the All Progressives Congress, based on verifiable indices of good governance since the party came to power in 2016.
Oyebanji said, “The victory recorded by Governor 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.
“Similarly, the electoral victory shows that Nigerians appreciate the leadership of President Bola 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.”
The governor hailed the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; the Progressive Governors’ Forum; the party’s National Campaign Council; National Assembly members; among others, for their hard work which contributed to the electoral success.
Oyebanji hailed the Ondo people for conducting themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner, which resulted in the overall success of the governorship poll across the state.
The governor lauded Ekiti indigenes who reside in Ondo for heeding his clarion to use their votes to retain Aiyedatiwa in office, as he expressed optimism that they would reap the bountiful harvest of good governance from the new administration.