Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has congratulated Ayo Fayose of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who won the strongly contested governorship election in the state on Saturday.
In a very short broadcast at 11am on Sunday, Fayemi said he had called Fayose to congratulate him over his victory at the polls. He also said he was meeting with Fayose on Monday to discuss ways of moving the State forward.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also congratulated the newly elected Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Peter Fayose, describing his victory at the election on Saturday as well deserved.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Sunday described the Ekiti governorship poll as credible, free and fair, adding that it was an unequivocal statement on the preference of the PDP by the entire people of Ekiti state, “a victory indeed for democracy.”
“We are particularly elated that the will of the people of Ekiti state prevailed and we sincerely congratulate them for realising their yearning for a truly democratically elected administration in their dear state,” Metuh said.
“The outcome of this election confirms the popularity and acceptability of the PDP and its candidate, the governor-elect of Ekiti State. It brings to the front burner, the genuineness of the crowd that throng our rallies across the country, especially in Ekiti state.”
PDP also attributed the victory to its “strict adherence to the principles of internal democracy, the kernel of transparency in the conduct of our governorship primary which produced a popular candidate, the overwhelming choice of party members.
Metuh said the victory was also a clear conformation of its position that the APC is not really on the ground and has no genuine followership even in states that are under its control. Thanking the people of Ekiti state for their support, the PDP urged the governor- elect to ensure an all-inclusive administration that will revamp and reposition the state in line with the manifesto and ideology of the PDP and move it from the APC’s valleys of poverty, stagnation and ruin.
The PDP charged the APC to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship by accepting a clear defeat and congratulating the PDP and the governor-elect, insisting that the handwriting has since been on the wall as evidenced in the massive support Fayose has been receiving since emerging as PDP candidate.
“We demand of the APC, the sportsmanship required of democrats in an electoral contest by congratulating the victorious candidate just as we did in Edo state where it won and in Ondo and Anambra States where Labour and APGA won respectively instead of taking to incitement and other bad loser syndrome,” Metuh said.
The party further congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on his principled stand on the legacy of credible elections.
“We wish to state very emphatically that the commitment of the President remains the greatest motivation to the new story of credible polls in Nigeria – a promise he made to the nation in 2010, he has faithfully delivered. He has effectively put behind us, the story of Nigeria as an electoral pariah in the international community. We are so proud,” Metuh stated.
The party finally commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for their contributions to the successful conduct of the election.
President Goodluck Jonathan has also congratulated Fayose describing the victory as “an overwhelming” one.
In a statement signed by his spokesman, Reuben Abati on Sunday, Jonathan also commended INEC, the Security Services and the good people of Ekiti State for the successful and peaceful conduct of the elections in keeping with his administration’s avowed commitment to ensure that elections in all parts of Nigeria are progressively freer, fairer and more credible.
“As Mr. Fayose readies himself to assume office in fulfillment of the clearly expressed wish of his people, President Jonathan urges him to be humble and magnanimous in victory and commit himself to forming an administration that will work for the advancement of the interests of all Ekiti people irrespective of their political affiliations or loyalties,” Abati said n the statement.
“President Jonathan calls on Mr. Fayose to regard his second chance to serve as Governor of Ekiti State as a sacred mandate from God Almighty and his people which he must discharge with immense dedication, wisdom and vigour to achieve a much more rapid pace of socio-economic development in Ekiti State for the benefit of its people who resoundingly reaffirmed their trust in his leadership by voting overwhelmingly for his election yesterday.”
Jonathan assured Fayose that the Federal Government will give all necessary support and assistance to his incoming administration and cooperate fully with him in furtherance of the present administration’s objective of significantly improving the living conditions of Nigerians in all parts of the country.
He wished Fayose continued good health and a very successful second tenure as governor of Ekiti State.
