INEC declares Makinde winner of Oyo governorship election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde winner of the governorship election in the state.

Governor Makinde won in 31 out of the 33 local government areas of the State, leaving his closest challenger and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Teslim Folarin, with only two LGAs.

The gubernatorial election, which was held in all the 33 local government areas of the State on Saturday, had three major contenders among others.

The total results were announced by INEC State Collation Officer, Adebayo Bamire.

Makinde polled a total of 563,617 votes while his closest rival, Sen. Teslim Folarin scored 251,230. Adebayo Adelabu of the Accord came a distant third polling 38,757.

Mr Bamire, the vice-chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, announced the PDP governorship candidate as the winner of the election having met the conditions set for the election by Nigerian laws.

He said a total of 14,920 votes were rejected of the 889,592 votes cast.

Makinde is the last of the PDP G5 or Integrity Group with an election. Already, Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Samuel Ortom (Benue), who have been in office for eight years each, all lost their senatorial bid while Nyesom Wike (Rivers) who is also completing his second term as Governor didn’t run for any elective post.

With the defeat of three of his comrades, all eyes were on Makinde in the March 18 poll. With his declaration as the winner by INEC, Makinde survived the defeat suffered by other G5 members.