Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti on Tuesday received the certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following his victory in last Saturday’s governorship election.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, who represented INEC Chairman Prof Joseph Amupitan, presented the certificate to Oyebanji at the commission’s state headquarters in Ado-Ekiti.

The REC congratulated the governor on his re-election and commended the people of the state for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process.

He said the successful conduct of the election reflected the commitment of INEC and other stakeholders to strengthening democratic governance in the state.

Omoseyindemi urged all political actors to continue to uphold democratic values.

The event was attended by party leaders, government officials, traditional rulers and supporters of the governor.

Accord has demanded the immediate removal of the Osun State Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan, citing persistent violence and  killing of its members in the state with no one held accountable .

Accord said that its members are being killed and maimed ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election in the state.

Accord, the ruling party in Osun, said it has lost confidence in the ability and capacity of the Commissioner of Police to curb violence and politically motivated killings by political thugs who operate in broad daylight shooting sporadically across the state capital, Osogbo and Ede intimidating, harassing, killing and injuring residents particularly its members and supporters.

The party said it has reported the attacks to the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, but “sadly no arrest has been made let alone prosecuting these criminal elements terrorising the good people of Osun State which give them the audacity and impunity to continue their dastardly acts”.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, Accord said it has lost a number of “leaders, members and supporters in the state, and several others wounded in the APC orchestrated violence including attacks at the party’s state secretariat, Imole Campaign Council’s office and destruction of campaign billboards in the worst political violence in Osun State”.

“Our hearts still bleed over the gruesome killing of a 14-year-old boy identified as Ezekiel Olapade who was shot dead on Sunday, 21st June 2026, at Ilobu Community of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State when political thugs associated with APC shot sporadically around the council’s secretariat when they sighted an Accord member wearing a party cap, in the process killed the boy while attempting to rescue his mother who fell into a ditch as they tried to escape the bullets,” the statement said.

Accord called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General Department of State Services and the National Security Adviser to intervene and restore public safety and order in the state.

“Accordingly, the Inspector General of Police should as a matter of urgency transfer the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan for his inability to dispassionately discharge his duties of safeguarding lives and property in the state, and apprehending the known APC thugs perpetrating violence to face the full weight of the law,” it added.

“Politics is not a do-or-die affair. The political ambition of any electoral contestant does not worth the blood of fellow compatriots.

“Accord urges politicians to eschew politics of bitterness and brigandage that impedes the nation’s democracy and embrace issues-based campaigns, and allow the people to choose their governor peacefully. At the end, the ballot is stronger than the bullet.

“Any threat to democratic participation in the August 15 gubernatorial election in the state, is an attack on the nation’s democracy. It must be resisted by all lovers of representative governance.

“Accord will not be cowed by anti-democratic forces that want to destabilise its pro-people governance in Osun State. The party salutes the courage and political sagacity of its governor, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke for effectively piloting the affairs of the state in spite of provocations by reactionary forces to distract him.

“The good people of Osun State are in one accord to support Governor Adeleke’s transformative leadership. A vote for Accord is a vote for prosperity and good governance.”

A group within the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday expressed concerns over what it describes as a drastic decline in turnout of voters during the Ondo South by-election held on Saturday.

The Grassroots Movement for Tinubu GMT, Ondo State chapter stated that the sharp decline witnessed in voter turnout, when compared to previous elections held in the state, calls for reflection.

While congratulating the winner of the by-election, Prof. Dayo Faduyile of the APC, GMT in a statement issued by its Director of Media, Ojo Oyewamide, maintained that the development should serve as a “wake-up call” for the party in the state, particularly since the 2027 general election is fast approaching.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Faduyile, a former National President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, winner after polling 68,474 votes across the six local government areas of the senatorial district.

The group, which described the outing of the APC as unimpressive, disclosed that the party was able to secure a total of 126,196 votes in the senatorial district in the 2024 governorship election that produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“According to the distribution of the votes, APC in 2024 scored 26,811 in Okitipupa, 17,127 in Irele, 24,414 in Ilaje, 14,511 in Ese-Odo, 26,683 in Odigbo, and 16,600 in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo.

“This development is even more noteworthy considering that Hon. Agboola Ajayi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2024 election, alongside several notable PDP leaders and supporters, has since joined the APC. Ordinarily, the influx of such political heavyweights and their supporters should have translated into increased electoral strength for our party.

“The lesson is clear. Victory should not breed complacency. Rather, it should inspire introspection, reconciliation, and renewed grassroots mobilization. The APC in Ondo State must urgently embark on genuine reconciliation and inclusive party-building. Every stakeholder must be carried along.

“The task before us is bigger than any individual or group. We cannot afford internal divisions at a time when preparations for the 2027 presidential election should already be gathering momentum.

“GMT also wishes to commend the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his unwavering commitment to the success of President Tinubu and the APC. His support for various grassroots political groups has significantly expanded the reach of the Renewed Hope message across Ondo State,” Oyewamide said.