United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria has hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for introducing the Bi-modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) in the governorship election held in Ekiti State last Saturday.

The Mission stated that the BVAS functioned properly in polling units across the state.

It made this known via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Wednesday.

INEC had declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Biodun Oyebanji, as the winner of the gubernatorial election.

Oyebanji 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.

However, the United States Mission to Nigeria, in a statement titled, ‘Statement on the concluded Ekiti State gubernatorial election’, felicitated the people of Ekiti State on the “peaceful conduct” of the poll.

It stated: “The United States Mission to Nigeria congratulates the citizens of Ekiti State on the largely peaceful conduct of the gubernatorial election on June 18.

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“We commend the concerted efforts of INEC staff and security personnel which helped facilitate a secure election with a credible outcome.

“We note the election’s technical improvements including that the newly adopted bi-modal verification accreditation system (BVAS) functioned properly in the vast majority of polling stations.

“We encourage all citizens to register to vote as the country moves towards national elections,” the statement read.

The Star