>
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Dr. John Kayode Fayemi on winning the Ekiti State governorship election.
INEC declared Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election on Sunday morning. Declaring Fayemi winner, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, the Returning Officer, said he polled 197,459 votes to beat Prof. Olusola Eleka of PDP who polled 178,121 votes.
A statement issued by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said “President Buhari urges the governor-elect and APC members to be magnanimous in victory as the incoming administration prepares to unfold a new lease of life for the people of Ekiti State through purposeful and responsible governance.”
He commended the people of the state for their matured and peaceful conduct during the polls.
President Buhari also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for adequate preparations and displaying impartiality throughout the process.
According to the statement, “Buhari applauds the security agencies for creating the right atmosphere for the relatively peaceful conduct of the polls and urges them to sustain the peace.”
He commended local and international observers and monitors for their vigilance and contributions towards the relatively hitch-free exercise.
It reads further: “The President urges the losers to be gallant in conceding defeat and use constitutional means to settle whatever grievances they may have rather than resort to self-help.
“President Buhari appeals to all stakeholders in Ekiti State to work towards a successful transition to a new administration in the higher interest of not only the State but the entire nation and its fledgling democratic experience.”
“In all this, the people of Ekiti State have spoken loud and clear, and democracy has won again,” Buhari noted.