The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has declared the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate and incumbent governor of Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria, Seyi Makinde, as the winner of the state’s gubernatorial election.
The Oyo State Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State in Southwest, Nigeria, Professor Adedayo Bamire, made the announcement after the collation of results from the 33 local government areas of the state.
Makinde polled 563,756 votes to defeat his closest rival Teslim Folarin of the All Progressive Congress who polled 256,685 votes.
Makinde, who was seeking re-election, on Saturday, contested against a three-term Senator in Teslim Folarin of All Progressives Congress and Adebayo Adelabu of Accord Party, who was the former deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Reacting to the announcement, the Oyo State Collation Agent for the PDP, Dr Nureni Adeniran, appreciated the people of Oyo State for believing in the mandate of Governor Seyi Makinde and enjoined them to continue to support the governor in making the state a better place.
On his part, the Oyo APC Secretary Olanite Tajudeen said the Party would study the results after the announcement and would take legal steps to challenge the result, should the need arise.
While speaking with Journalists, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, said the police learned from the last Presidential election and applied the knowledge during the gubernatorial election with the support of the people and political parties. He disclosed that miscreants who tried to disrupt the process were curtailed.
Emmanuel Ukoh
