Fayose, Deputy-Elect Receive Certificates Of Return From INEC •Gives Fayemi Knocks Over Plans To Create New Council Areas

GOVERNOR-ELECT AYO FAYOSE RECEIVING HIS CERTIFICATE OF RETURN
GOVERNOR-ELECT AYO FAYOSE RECEIVING HIS CERTIFICATE OF RETURN

The winner of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been presented with a certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The ceremony which took place at the INEC office in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, was witnessed by supporters of the governor-elect, the deputy governor-elect, Dr Kolapo Olusola Eleka and party leaders.

The presentation followed his victory at the poll where he defeated the incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Speaking after receiving the certificate, Fayose said: “I want to thank Governor Kayode Fayemi for conceding defeat to me. He has proved to be a statesman. But it will be ungentlemanly for him to start creating local governments or employing people he has not employed in the past four years. I want to advise that he has been honourable and he has to maintain this”.

Commenting on the election, Fayose said “with this election, INEC has proved that it has the capacity to put Nigeria back on track. You did not choose a governor for us in your office, but you allowed Ekiti people to freely choose. This will forever remain in history”.

Fayose advised politicians, who are not from the state, to desist from making harsh comments about the election, saying “democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.

“I will go for the goal like Chief Obafemi Awolowo because I will not look sideways. It only takes the kindness of God for people to rise twice. And I am making this pledge that I will serve the common people and I will also respect the elite”.

He said as the leader of the PDP in the South-West, he would do everything within his power to reawaken and reenergise the party in the zone.

The governor-elect called on all Ekiti indigenes not to entertain fear, saying none of them would be persecuted on account of their political differences.

Presenting the certificate, the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, promised that the commission would continue to replicate the achievement recorded in Ekiti in the subsequent elections.

Represented on the occasion by the INEC Commissioner in charge of Ekiti, Oyo and Ogun states, Professor Lai Olurode, the INEC chairman stated that many top functionaries of the commission would have been sacked, but for good performance in Ekiti election.

According to him, the Ekiti election “was not delivered by caesarean section because we did not predict the outcome. We never allowed our personal predilection to determine the outcome of the election. That is why we are celebrating today.

“Before, we have seen a governor who won election and could not stay in his state to celebrate with the people. So, I plead with Nigerians to continue to have confidence in us. If you see any of our officials perpetrating fraud, try and gather evidence, Professor Jega will not spare such person”.