The South-West chapter of the All Progressives Congress has praised Ekiti State voters for returning Governor Biodun Oyebanji for a second term, describing the outcome as a reflection of the people’s confidence in the party and its leadership.

The party, in a statement released in Ibadan on Monday by its zonal Publicity Secretary, Ayobami Afolabi, said the result showed that residents of Ekiti were capable of making political choices that advanced the interests of the state and Nigeria.

Oyebanji was declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti after defeating candidates from about 13 political parties.

His victory makes him the first serving governor in Ekiti State to win re-election.

The APC said the governor secured close to 90 per cent of votes cast across the state’s 16 local government areas, adding that the result demonstrated the electorate’s decision to retain the party in government.

Afolabi said Oyebanji’s re-election was an exceptional achievement and an indication that many Nigerians recognised the leadership being provided by the governor and President Bola Tinubu.

He said the party would treat the mandate with seriousness and had charged Oyebanji and other elected representatives to raise the standard of governance through improved service delivery, fresh ideas and accountable leadership.

The APC spokesperson also turned attention to the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, expected to hold in less than two months.

He said the poll would give residents of the state another opportunity to align with what he described as mainstream politics and elect a governor capable of representing their interests.

Afolabi called on political leaders and stakeholders across the South-West to revive the development-driven principles associated with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

He said the six states in the region must work towards restoring the standard of development that distinguished the South-West during the 1950s and 1960s.

The APC thanked Ekiti residents for sustaining the party’s hold on the state and appealed to them to offer greater support to the party and President Tinubu in subsequent elections.

According to him, stronger backing for the APC would bring more democratic benefits to the people of Ekiti and secure their place in the state’s political history.