President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has urged the governor-elect of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose to see his electoral victory as a sacred mandate from God and an opportunity to serve his people for the second time.
He therefore urged him to be “to be humble and magnanimous in victory and commit himself to forming an administration that will work for the advancement of the interests of all Ekiti people irrespective of their political affiliations or loyalties.”
Jonathan gave the advice in a message of congratulations to the Governor elect. The message was signed by Dr. Reuben Abati, the presidential adviser on media.
In the governorship election held in Ekiti state, 21 June, the PDP candidate recorded a landslide victory against the incumbent, Governor Kayode Fayemi of the APC. It was the second time that the PDP candidate would record such upset against an incumbent. He enacted a similar feat in 2003 against Governor Adeniyi Adebayo.
Fayose won 203,090 votes against 120,433 votes recorded by Governor Fayemi.
He also won in all the 16 local councils in the state.
President Jonathan commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Security Services and the people of Ekiti State for the peaceful conduct of the elections “in keeping with the present administration’s avowed commitment to ensuring that elections in all parts of Nigeria are progressively freer, fairer and more credible”.
The President also gave an assurance to Mr. Fayose that the Federal Government will give all necessary support and assistance to his incoming administration and cooperate fully with him in furtherance of the present administration’s objective of significantly improving the living conditions of Nigerians in all parts of the country.