The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Seyi Makinde, the incumbent governor of Oyo State, as the winner of the governorship election in the state. Makinde, who was seeking re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won in 31 out of the 33 local government areas in the state.
The announcement was made by the INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, who declared that Makinde had polled a total of 515,621 votes to beat his closest rival, Teslim Folarin of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 357,982 votes. Adebayo Adelabu of the Accord Party (AP) came third with 8,909 votes.
The election was keenly contested by the three major parties in the state, with each party deploying various strategies to woo the electorate.
However, Makinde’s achievements in his first term in office, particularly in the areas of education, health, and infrastructure development, appear to have earned him the support of the majority of voters in the state.
Reacting to the news of his victory, Makinde thanked the people of Oyo State for their support and promised to continue his developmental strides in the state. He also called on his opponents to join hands with him in moving the state forward.
The election result has been widely hailed as free, fair, and credible, with various local and international observers commending INEC for its efforts in ensuring a peaceful and transparent process.
This victory gives Makinde another four years to consolidate on his achievements and take Oyo State to greater heights.