Biodun Oyebanji Takes Oath As Ekiti Governor; Fayemi Bows Out

By Ayodele Oni

Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has been sworn in as the fifth democratically elected Governor of Ekiti State.

He along with his Deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye were sworn in on Sunday by the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Oyewole Adeyeye at exactly 12:53 pm amid cheers from the mammoth crowd.

His swearing-in marks the end of the tenure of Dr Kayode Fayemi as Governor of the State.

Clad in white agbada with a cream cap to match, he pledged to preserve, protect and defend as well as preserve the office as Governor.

Dignitaries present include the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu; Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and his Plateau State counterpart, Simon Lalong.

Others include Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) among others.

The swearing-in took place at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion.

Oyebanji, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the Ekiti governorship election with 187,057 votes, defeating his two closest challengers — Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who polled 82,211 votes, and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 67,457 votes.

Ekiti State is among the Nigerian States which election calender was disrupted following the 2007 court judgements of 2007, 2010 and 2020.

Other States are Anambra, Osun, Bayelsa, Edo and Imo.