Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has urged voters to defend the sanctity of the electoral process as they cast their votes on Saturday to elect his replacement.
In what appears to be a three-horse race, the ruling All Progressives Congress fielded the immediate past Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Biodun Oyebanji, as its candidate, the Peoples Democratic Party presented its former state chairman, Bisi Kolawole, as its flag-bearer, while the standard-bearer of the Social Democratic Party, Segun Oni, is a former governor of the state.
Addressing voters and all actors in the election, Fayemi urged all actors to exhibit the highest degree of nobility in word and conduct.
He said, “I am grateful to the leadership and members of our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), my fellow progressives, and to you, the good people of Ekiti State for your heart-warming reception in our state capital, Ado-Ekiti today.
“This is not an honour that I take lightly at all. It is a humbling recognition of our stewardship of the destiny of Ekiti State. It is appreciative of how far we have come in the course of our journey and fully cognisant of, yet undaunted by, how far we have to go on the road ahead of us.
“This is also a great moment for our party. I congratulate Asiwaju Tinubu for the well-deserved victory and the leadership of the party as well as the convention committee members for a great job. Collectively, we shall work assiduously for the success of our party in the 2023 elections.
“As Ekiti gubernatorial elections draw closer, I urge all actors to exhibit the highest degree of nobility in word and conduct and work together to protect and defend the sanctity of the electoral process. This is a bi-partisan imperative that we must achieve together.
“I commit the days ahead to the sovereignty of the Almighty God as we take this major step forward in consolidating democratic governance in our state. May our shared love for Ekiti and our selfless pursuit of the common good be blessed by God.”