The gates of Ekiti State Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti were, on Wednesday, flung open to thousands of members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress who were celebrating the victory of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in Saturday’s presidential election.
Tinubu won the presidential election with 8, 794, 726 votes, defeating his major rivals, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 6, 984, 520 votes and Peter Obi of Labour Party, who secured 6,101,533 votes out of the 24, 965, 218 total votes cast.
Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party came a distant fourth with 1,496,687 votes.
The former two-term Lagos State governor was issued a Certificate of Return on Wednesday by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja.
The jubilant crowd, comprising different groups and individuals from different parts of Ekiti State, chanted praise and thanksgiving songs as they danced and expressed confidence in Tinubu’s ability to restore the country’s prosperity and ensure the welfare of the citizenry.
Addressing the crowd, the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, thanked citizens of the state for voting for Tinubu, just as he assured them that the President-elect would fulfill the promises he made to the state and to Nigerians.
The governor said, “Now that he has become President-elect, help has come to us. I can assure you, help has come. I have seen a burden-bearer who will help me carry the burden of the state. Ekiti people must expect more dividends of democracy.”
Oyebanji described Tinubu as “the most prepared, most ready and most competent for the Presidency.”
He added, “It is a new day in Nigeria, a happy day for all lovers of democracy, Tinubu’s electoral victory is a defining moment in the annals of our political history as a nation.
“I have absolute confidence in his capacity to turn around the fortunes of the country and lead Nigeria to a new level of economic prosperity and international relevance.”
Similarly, hundreds of residents and supporters of the APC trooped to the streets of Iragbiji, Osun State, to celebrate the victory of the party’s presidential candidate.
Celebrations also rocked Ejigbo, Iwo and Osogbo, the Osun State capital, as supporters dressed in their party uniforms and waving flags sang praises of the President-elect.
Reacting to Tinubu’s victory, the immediate past governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, said it indicated that the country was on the verge of democratic rejuvenation.
Oyetola, in a statement by his spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan, further said, “Your emergence at the just-concluded presidential election is indeed a reward for your tireless efforts and selfless service to Nigeria and Nigerians and, of course, humanity.
“You are not just a leader of leaders but the finest politician who had used his God-given wisdom and wealth to build humanity and advance the socio-economic fortunes of our dear country.
“With your antecedents coupled with your outstanding credentials in both private and public sectors, I have no doubt in my mind that you will deliver good governance and build on Nigeria’s existing democratic structures.”
Similarly, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, in a statement, described Tinubu’s emergence as a victory for Yorubaland, adding that history had been written in gold, most especially in Yorubaland for averting the tragedy inflicted on the race in 1963 and 1993.
In Katsina, celebrants went through various communities in the state capital, including Dandagoro, Kofan Kaoran, Kofar Durbi and GRA, singing praises of APC, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Governor Aminu Masari and Tinubu.
They eventually assembled at the People’s Square, opposite Government House, where various APC leaders, including Governor Aminu Masari and the APC governorship candidate in the state, Dr Radda Dikko, took turns to address them.
Masari said, “Katsina State has done its best to support the APC in the North-West. For the APC not to win in the state in the presidential election was the will of God, and God willing, we will emerge victorious in the next election.
“We believe that Katsina will prosper under Dikko Radda as well as Nigeria under Ahmed Tinubu.
“Let us appreciate God for being faithful to the APC-led government.
Considering the hardship people went through, especially the currency swap, naira crunch and fuel scarcity, it emerged victorious in the presidential election.”
