Ekiti 2026: Deputy Governor votes, hails massive turnout

The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Fumilayo Afuye, has lauded the turnout of voters in the ongoing governorship election in the state as she voted, describing it as encouraging.

The deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed optimism of the party’s victory in the poll.

Chief Afuye spoke after voting at her Atiba/Aafin Ward 1, Polling Unit 003 at Ikere-Ekiti in Ikere Local Government Area of the state, commending the voters for their sense of patriotism and orderliness.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deputy governor, who voted at about 8:50am, also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for their impartiality and professionalism.

She said the massive turnout of voters for the governorship poll indicated that Nigeria’s democracy was fast maturing and developing.

Afuye said: “You can see for yourselves how people trooped out to participate in this election. 

“Not only trooping out but being ready and anxious to participate in the voting. 

“I am indeed impressed with this conduct of our voters.

“I am not using Ikere as the only area of focus now.

“We are also getting the same information from some of our local governments and towns that voters are coming out in large numbers.

“I am happy about this. 

“This shows that the rigorous campaigns that we did yielded positive results.

“I have to commend the INEC as well and our security agencies. 

“They really prepared for this election.

“You can see that nobody is being intimidated and I believe if we continue like this, this election may turn out being the best in Ekiti history.”

Commenting on the outcome of the poll, the APC deputy governorship candidate expressed confidence that Governor Biodun Oyebanji would emerge victorious and be re-elected for another term.

She said: “Governor Oyebanji has served Ekiti with every fibre in his body and widely adjudged to have performed excellently well.

“He is not only winning this election, it is going to win by a wide margin.”