President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed joy over how the governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress “mobilised and supported” the governor-elect of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, during the governorship election held in the state on Saturday.

Buhari made this known when he received Oyebanji at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

Oyebanji, a governorship candidate of the APC, polled 187,057 votes to defeat his two closest challengers – Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

SDP came second in the election with 82,211 votes, while PDP occupied the third position with 67,457 votes.

Speaking on Monday, President Buhari said he keenly followed the gubernatorial election, adding that he was delighted with the orderly conduct, and the way the electorate and security agencies comported themselves.

“I loved how the APC governors mobilised, and supported you.

“I think the party is very lucky, and things are getting better. I congratulate the Chairman, and I pray you sustain it,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Monday.

Also speaking, the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, thanked God for Oyebanji’s emergence as the winner of the governorship election, pledging that same would be replicated in Osun State in July.

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In his remarks, the governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, who was the chairman of the APC campaign council for the Ekiti State governorship election, congratulated President Buhari on winning the poll.

Bagudu said: “Your unending effort to reposition the party is paying off. If we combine the votes of the candidates that came second and third, our candidate still beat them by a wide margin. APC is being daily endeared to Nigerians. Our gratitude goes to you, Mr President.”

On his part, Oyebanji appreciated the President, saying the election was a referendum on the party and “a clear, positive signal to the election in Osun, and the National one next year”.

“APC is still the party of choice,” he added.

The governor-elect further lauded Buhari “for the leadership and the level playing field you provided”, adding that he would be magnanimous in victory, as earlier advised by the President.

Also at the meeting was Governors Kayode Fayemi and Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Ekiti and Jigawa states, respectively.

The Star