By Cross Udo (Abuja) and Ojo Oludamisi (Ado-Ekiti)
Forty hours after officially being declared as the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election, governor-elect, Biodun Oyebanji, was formally presented to President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday.

The governor-elect, who reacted to the widespread allegations of vote-buying, stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not involved in vote-buying during Saturday’s election.

This is as President Muhammadu Buhari received the governor-elect at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

There have been allegations that the Ekiti state governorship election was marred by massive vote-buying with the ruling APC fingered at the centre alongside some other parties that participated in the exercise.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents after being presented to President Buhari, the governor-elect said he did not witness any vote-buying in the polling unit where he voted.

Oyebanji said he won the poll based on the performance of the outgoing administration in the state in which he played a prominent role.

The former Secretary to the State Government (SGF) in Ekiti State, said he canvassed for votes using the record of performance of the administration and what he had to offer the people going forward.

Asked to react to the allegation that there was massive vote-buying in the election, and that he was a beneficiary of the tendency, Oyebanji simply said, “Well, where I voted, I did not witness anything like that. But people are entitled to their opinion, but not to their facts.”

Further reminded that there is video evidence on the alleged vote-buying and asked what should be done to stop it, the governor-elect maintained that neither he nor his party, the APC, was involved in the alleged act.

He said, “Well, I will speak for myself. I canvassed for votes. I had a manifesto that was unveiled to the Ekiti people and I canvassed based on that manifesto.

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“I’m a part of a government that has done so well. The last time I was here, I said that if performance is an indicator of electoral success that we have nothing to fear. So, as far as we are concerned in APC, we were not involved in vote-buying, but we have done so well, and we have a manifesto that pleases our people.”

Speaking when he received the governor-elect led by the APC Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Governors Kayode Fayemi, Atiku Bagudu, and Abubakar Badaru of Ekiti, Kebbi, and Jigawa states respectively, President Muhammadu Buhari said he keenly followed the polls held on Saturday, June 18, and was delighted with the orderly conduct, and the way the electorate and security agencies comported themselves.

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The president, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, was quoted as saying, “I loved how the APC governors mobilised, and supported you.”

The president told Oyebanji, “I think the party is very lucky, and things are getting better. I congratulate the chairman, and I pray you to sustain it.”
In his capacity as chairman of the Campaign Council for Ekiti, Governor Badaru congratulated President Buhari on the successful outing, saying; “Your unending effort to reposition the party is paying off. If we combine the votes of the candidates that came second and third, our candidate still beat them by a wide margin. APC is being daily endeared to Nigerians. Our gratitude goes to you, Mr President.”

The governor-elect, while appreciating the president, said the election was a referendum on the party, “and a clear, positive signal to the election in Osun, and the national one next year. APC is still the party of choice.”

Oyebanji lauded the president “for the leadership and the level playing field you provided,” adding that he would be magnanimous in victory, as earlier advised by President Buhari.

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Also speaking, the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, affirmed that the allegation of vote-buying was raised by elements who were losing at the poll.

While responding to a question, he said, “I just want to add a word or two in the response of our governor-elect on the issue of vote-buying. As a patriotic Nigerian that is privileged to lead the ruling party in this country today, I want to only appeal to the media. Please don’t partake in portraying negative attitudes in our processes. If you do so, you are compromising, I’m sorry to say so. You’re compromising the integrity of our process as a country.

“I would have preferred if the person who asked that question said, Look, in America, this is what they do in democracy in respect to the subject matter. In the United Kingdom or France, this is what they do. This is what you are doing differently. And please, let us not be too much in the space of speculation.

“I have noticed that over the last maybe four or five general elections in this country, this issue of vote-buying has taken a centre stage. One can only evidence what he saw, and what he did. And I’m sure His Excellency, the governor-elect, responded in very good faith.

“Some of you who are asking this particular question did not go to Ekiti. You were not there. Somebody who is losing the election flies a kite. Oh, they are buying votes and all the kind of money they have. That’s why I’m losing, and you are helping to market that opinion.

“I’m only appealing to you as a fellow Nigerian and somebody who has been in your trade before today. Please, let us help build this country positively.”