INEC declares Makinde re-elected in Oyo polls
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sunday, announced the Governor of Oyo State as re-elected for a second term after beating off the challenge of his closest rivals from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Teslim Folarin and Adebayo Adelabu of the Accord Party.
Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 563,756 defeated Folarin -256,685 votes and Adelabu – 38,357 votes.
Makinde, a member of the aggrieved G-5 group of Governors of the PDP who all opted to campaign against their party’s choice of Presidential candidate in Atiku Abubakar, becomes the only successful candidate in the 2023 elections, as all other three have lost their political ambitions.
Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu have all lost out in their senatorial ambitions, with leader of the group, Nyesom Wike of Rivers not vying for any elective office.
Reacting to his declaration by INEC as winner of the governorship election, Makinde wrote via his verified Twitter handle (@seyiamakinde), Sunday evening, “We dedicate this victory to God and the good people of Oyo State. We are grateful for your confidence in our administration and promise to work even harder to deliver our promises under Omituntun 2.0.”