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INEC Declares BAO As The Winner of Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election

By Leo Ezekiel

Speaking as the Presiding Electoral Officer at the Independent National Electoral Commission Collation Centre, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Kayode Oyewole Adebowale, a Professor of Industrial Chemistry states that Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the gubernatorial election of Saturday, June 18^th, 2022 that Oyebanji is the Governor elect with a total votes cast in his honour is 187,057 adding that Oyebanji has faithfully and graciously satisfy all the rules and regulations set out for the said gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as he also added that a certificate of return shall be issued to him by the commission. 

Speaking further to all and sundry, at the INEC coalition centre, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Professor Adebowale states that Otunba Olusegun Oni of Social Democratic Party (SDP) emerged the second runners up with a total votes cast in his honour stood at 82,211 adding that the third runners up Otunba Bisi Kolawole of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took third position with a total votes cast in his honour which stood at 67,457. 

The presiding Electoral Official Professor Adebowale states that 16 political parties participated in the governorship election of Ekiti State and these political parties are accord, AAC, ADC, ADP, APGA, APN, APP, LP, and others are NNPP, NRN, PRP, YPP and the least but not the last is ZLP. Accord Party got a total vote cast of 166, AAC 409, ADC 5,597, ADP 3,495 APGA 376, PRP 856, YPP 618 and ZLP 282 adding that 989,220 is the total number of registered voters while 363,488 are accredited for the said governorship election of Ekiti State. 

Speaking further to the gathering, the Professor of Industrial Chemistry states that total of 357, 865 votes were cast by electorate while 8,888 numbers of votes were rejected as he also added that the total votes cast at the gubernatorial election of Ekiti State 2022 stood at 360,753. Speaking with Iconblazemagazineonline, the All Progressives Congress APC agent for Oyebanji Hon Babade states that he is quite overwhelmed with the ways and manner INEC conducted the said election which that recorded massive turn out of electorate and as well as the wonderful roles the media played adding that the said election is crisis free, as non was recorded to his knowledge. 

Speaking further he states that APC is a political party that is heavily a progressive in nature adding that the Governor-elect Oyebanji that will be sworn in into office on October 16^th, 2022 shall continue from where the outgoing Governor Dr. John Kayode Fayemi shall be dropping curtain adding that APC is a political party that believes in human development index et’al. 

Speaking further Hon Babade states that the 2022 Ekiti State Governorship election recorded uncommon fairness, credibility and free adding that the presence of police and other Security Operatives actually secured the entire state as those street urchins were afraid of the outcome from the security agencies ends as he pleasantly and uncommonly congratulated the Governor elect Oyebanji and as well as he prayed for him for God Almighty Father be all to him so that he would be able to rule Ekiti State with good mien and candour. Ekiti State has the following Local Government Areas:

·        Ado Ekiti

·        Ekiti East

·        Ekiti West

·        Emure

·        Gbonyin

·        Ido Osi

·        Ifelodun/Irepodun

·        Ijero

·        Ikere

·        Ikole

·        Ilejemeje

·        Iseorun

·        Moba

·        Oye

Despite that the candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) Otunoba Oni emerged second position in the just concluded 2022 Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election, Otunba Oni and the members of Social Democratic Party had a mega rally campaign on Thursday 16^th June, 2022 where they moved around the entire length and width of the capital city of Ekiti State in Ado-Ekiti and of a truth the mega rally attracted many party faithful and this mega rally is powered by the Motor-Cyclists Support Group led by Comrade Gbenga Alade who did believe that his party would clinch the first position, but, alas, the electorate of Ekiti State decided with their votes that they preferred All Progressives Congress APC to govern them for another four years from October 16^th, 2022.

Speaking with Iconblazemagazineonline, High Chief Folorunsho Alake of Efon Alaaye kingdom states that the Governorship election of June 18^th, 2022 proved to be the freest, fairest and most credible election ever witnessed in the land of Ekiti State adding that the INEC has improved tremendously with their modus operandi as regards that INEC personnel, ad-hoc staffers and materials arrived at polling zones and units early thereby making electorate to be accredited accordingly. Speaking further he states that the issue of bad roads network within Aramoko-Efon Alaaye areas are Federal Government Roads which the State Government does not have the whims and caprices to repair adding that the Minister of Roads, Housing et’sl Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola should of a truth rise up to the occasion to get these Federal Roads fixed up for the public good of all and sundry. 

Speaking further, he state that the issue of Fulani herdsmen and kidnappers is a very serious one, that has made many farmers to abandon their farming projects because of the fear that they would be kidnapped by the Fulani herdsmen adding that he himself is a farmer, but, very sadly, he stated that he has stayed away from the farm because he does not wish to be kidnapped and they would now ask his children for ransom which is not available, he pragmatically appealed to the Federal Government and State Government to do more in this critical sector of securing the lives and property of the citizenry as he also added that the primary functions of Federal Government are to adequately provide uncommon security for all and sundry. Speaking further, Chief Alake, a leader of All Progressives Congress APC in Efon Alaaye kingdom states that the high rise cost of living is not only peculiar alone in Ekiti State, but, that the hardships cut across the entire space of Nigeria. 

Speaking further he states that the Governoor-elect Oyebanji is well known to him and others within the APC family and that he believes that the Governor-elect shall objectively and effectively discharge the duties of his office thereby dividends of democracy shall be provided for the citizenry.

Speaking with Iconblazemagazineonline, High Chief Dele Jeje a Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Efon Alaaye Local Government Area, Ekiti State stated that the just concluded Ekiti State Governorship Election turned out with massive electorate who came out to exercise their fundamental human rights of electing Governor adding that the said election is extremely and exceedingly free, fair and credible as he also added that the INEC personnel and ad-hoc staffers performed their duties creditably. Speaking further he states that the High rising prices of everyday items at the market is as a result of high rise of dollars in the forex market adding that the high cost of everyday items will only be reduced when the Naira shall be stabilized. 

Speaking further on the bad roads network between Aramoko to Efon Alaaye is a Federal Road that the Federal Government is the sole power that has to repair the bad roads adding that the State Government is not the sole power to take care of the Federal roads. He states that the Governor-elect Oyebanji is well known to him and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as he also added that he believes that the Governor elect shall pragmatically rule the State as APC as a Political Party has a radical Progressive policies that would attract the presence of dividends of democracy.

Speaking with Iconblazemagazineonline, High Chief and Hon. Odunayo Ategbero JP, the very First Executive Chairman of Efon Local Government Area, Ekiti State, one time a Commissioner of Information and Strategy under the administration of HE Oni and as well as Chairman, Board of Trustees, (ALGON) states that the Saturday June 18^th, 2022 Governorship Election is the freest, fairest and most credibly in the history of all elections held in Ekiti State adding that the electorate turned massively to cast their votes for their candidates of their choice. 

He states that the Governor elect Oyebanji is well known to him as they all were members of Adebayo For Governor (AFG) in the year 1999 when the former Executive Governor of Ekiti State and presently the Honourable Minister of Trades and Investment adding that he believes that the Governor elect Oyebanji would definitely discharge his duties creditably to the citizenry of the State. 

He states that the bad roads network across Ekiti State are Federal Government roads and as such the State Government cannot take up the roles of the Federal Government adding that in the past the State Government had tried to repair the Federal Government roads, but, that the arrangement did not favour the State Government, hence, the State Government does not interfere with such issues again. Speaking further, he states that the issues of the rising insecurity in the land calls for a serious and proactive actions so that lives and property of the Citizenry adding that the issue of Fulani herdsmen in Ekiti State and other parts of South West Geo Political zone adding that Amotekun of the State is up to the game, but, he avers that the Federal Government should pragmatically handle the issue of insecurity because a secured people is where development thrive.

Speaking with Iconblazemagazineonline, the Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and Rural Development and as well as Vice President Ekiti State Tree Growers Association (ESTGA) Prof. Adio Folayan, states that the Saturday, June 18^th, 2022 Governorship election is the freest, fairest and most credibly in the history of Ekiti State and that again the Governorship election is crisis free as there are no reports of breakdown of law in the land adding that the INEC personnel, adhoc Staffers and support Staffers actually performed creditably as in the discharge of their electoral functions. 

Speaking further he states that the Governor-elect Oyebanji was born in Ekiti Statem his parents are both Ekiti people, he did his primary school, secondary school and he also taught in Ekiti State University before he ventured into politics adding that he has been the Chief of Staff to HE Dr. fayemi. 

Speaking further, Prof. Folayan states that he is not aware of snatched ballot boxes, no arrest, no fight et’al as the election recorded uncommon turn out of electorate who came out to exercise their fundamental human rights by voting the candidates of their choice adding that the just concluded Governorship election of Ekiti State recorded the freest, fairest and uncommonly credibly, that the election has really served as a litmus test for the general elections of 2023 which comes up February 2023 that the electorate should objectively cast their votes for the APC Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was the former Executive Governor of Lagos State who efficiently and effectively raised the bar of Internally Generated Revenue to N45 Billion monthly adding that if he is elected as the next President of Nigeria that he would bring his expertises to bear. 

He states that the electorate should as well as cast their votes for candidates of senates, representatives and assembly. He states that all the State roads have received adequate attention from the State Government of HE Fayemi. Speaking further from his office Oke Bareke, Old Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, Prof Folayan states that the Governor Elect Oyebanji knows the yearnings and aspirations of the People which he states that believes that the Governor-Elect Oyebanji would pragmatically advance the State to mega city status.

Speaking wih Iconblazemagazineonline at his office at Phase Five of the new Secretariat, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, the Commissioner for Information and Value Orientation, Mr Akinbowale Omole states that the just concluded Governorship election of Ekiti State on a Saturday, June 18^th 2022 is the freest, fairest and most credible election ever witnessed in the annals of Political dispensation adding that he was the Chairman Media Committee for the 2022 Ekiti Governorship Election of All Progressives Congress (APC) and that he worked intadem with the Publicity Secretary of APC and as well as Chief Press Secretary to his Excellency, Dr Fayemi. Speaking further, Mr Omole states that he has been a grass rooted politician in Ekiti State which has span for a period of 25 years , stating that in year 1997, he was a member of UNCP, in 1999 he was a member of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and again in the year 2003 he was a member of Peoples Democratic Party of Ekiti State and finally he is now a member of All Progressives Congress adding that he is not like those of them who lives in Lagos or overseas, but, that he is grass rooter Politician who has contested elections severally, and that he was one time, majority leader of Ekiti House of Assembly. 

Speaking further he states that he has been a polling clerk, State Chairman of a Political Party and as well as a majority leader. He states that he as a person did not witness any case of ballots boxes snatching from any quarter as he voted at his own unit in Oye Local Government Area, Ekiti State as he says that he can only quote what he saw. He states that he did not get himself involve in any shady deal that is not lawful rather that he voted for his choice of candidate and remained in his unit calmly and peacefully. 

Speaking further he states that the issue of witnessing long queues at filling or fuel stations in Ekiti State is not peculiar to Ekiti State only, but, that it is a general malady in the republic, that the scarcity of fuel is as a result of the distribution chains to all nooks and crannies, that a collaboration with the NNPC and Federal Government is on going so as to reduce the biting effects on the citizenry. Speaking further he says that the rising prices of everyday items is not only in Ekiti State, but, that adequate attention has been drawn towards the issues as the powers that be has held meetings with market women and other groups as he avers that one cannot fix prices, as the forces of demand and supply are determinants of the prices of things. 

Speaking further he says that they are playing the role of mediatory approach between the sellers and consumers adding that the consumers must live well in all ramifications. He states that when the issues of transportation rose so high above the roof tops, that the State Government waded into the matter and at the end of the celebrations a meaningful solution was resolved at. He says that there is cartel who controls the markets, but, he says again that if farm products are adequately supply into the market, that would force the prices of everyday items down the line for the downtrodden masses. Speaking further, he says that there are two different types of roads in all States of the Federation, the Federal roads and the State roads adding that all State roads are in perfect health and motorable. 

That every community should have a tarred road for easy and accessible linkages within the State. He cited some of the roads the State Government has done for the public good of all and sundry Efon-Alaaye, Ado-Ifaki-Kwara, Federal roads like Agbado Ode et’al are for the Federal Government to care of while the State Government has done Oye road of 37km, Ikogosi 13km adding that Ifaki road belongs to the Federal Government, but, they have begun some rehabilitation exercise from Ilupeju Ekiti, Ikolo township roads is tarred. He states that in the past there has been kidnap cases in the State, but the Amotekun and other Security Operatives are doing well in combating the issues head-long and as he also added that they are collaboration with other security agencies, he narrated that the police is not answerable to the State Government, rather they are answerable to the Federal Government who is their employer who determines their salaries, promotions postings et’al. 

He concurs that there has to be heavy collaboration so that lives and property of the Citizenry shall be secured. And, again, he states that the issue of Fulani herdsmen kidnap in Ekiti State that some Ekiti persons act as agents as he cited that a Vulcanizer was heavily involved in the racket. 

Speaking further Mr Omole states that before one thinks of vying for any political position that the person should study the constitution of the federation, the electoral laws, constitution of the party he or she must be a member of the political party, must also participate in the primary election of the party and before becoming a candidate of the party. The person should adequately know the roles of the returning officers, presiding officers adding that the law is not for a window dressing. That everybody should perform his or her roles accordingly to Law. That the judiciary has a lot to play so that the society becomes livable and all and sundry should obey the rules and regulations of the federation.

Speaking with Iconblazemagazineonline, Chief Olayinka a Chieftain of APC in Efon Alaaye of Ekiti State states that the Saturday, June 18^th, 2022 gubernatorial election recorded the most peacefulness serene and the election is free, fair and credible adding that there was no violence, no fight and vote inducement or buying to his knowledge because he voted in his unit and thereafter he remained there as there was restriction of vehicular movements except those authorized legally by the law.