Biodun Oyebanji, governor-elect of Ekiti State, has stated that he did not see any vote buying in the state’s governorship election on Saturday.
At the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, June 20, President Muhammadu Buhari greeted the Ekiti State Governor-elect.
There have been allegations that the governorship election in Ekiti State was marred by huge vote buying, with the ruling APC at the center of the charges, as well as some other parties involved.
After being introduced to President Buhari, Oyebanji told State House correspondents that he won the election because of the outgoing administration’s performance in the state, which he played a key role in.
Read Also: Oyebanji, APC Candidate, Wins Ekiti Governorship Election
The former Secretary to Ekiti State Government, SSG, said he canvassed for votes using the record of performance of the administration and what he had to offer the people going forward.
On the allegation that there was massive vote buying in the election and that he was a beneficiary of the vote buying, Oyebanji simply retorted;
“Well, where I voted, I did not witness anything like that. But people are entitled to their opinion but not to their facts.
I canvassed for votes —Oyebanji
He added;
Well, I will speak for myself. I canvassed for votes. I had a manifesto that I unveiled to Ekiti people and I canvassed based on that manifesto.
I’m a part of a government that has done so well. Last time I was here, I said that if performance will be an indicator for electoral success, that we have nothing to fear. So, as far as we are concerned in APC we did not involve in vote buying, but we have done so well and we have a manifesto that pleases our people.
Governors Kayode Fayemi, Atiku Bagudu, and Abubakar Badaru of Kebbi and Jigawa States, led by APC Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu, were received by President Buhari, who said he closely followed the polls held on Saturday, June 18, and was pleased with the orderly conduct and the way the electorate and security agencies conducted themselves.
“I appreciated how the APC Governors organized and backed you,” the President told Oyebanji, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina. “I believe the party is very fortunate, and things are improving. I applaud the Chairman and wish you continued success.”
