Date: 2019-02-24

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Raheem Olawuyi, was on Sunday declared the winner of the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in the general elections held on Saturday.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Modinat Salman, while announcing the result at the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Omu-Aran, said Olawuyi polled 33,386 votes to emerge winner.

He defeated his closest rival, Dare Bankole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 26, 954 votes.

Salman, who is the Dean Faculty of Education University of Ilorin, said Olawuyi having scored the highest number of votes in the election was declared winner.

Salman gave the total valid votes as 61, 382 total number of rejected votes as 1, 587 and total number of votes cast as 62, 969.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olawuyi is currently a member of the House of Representative, representing the same constituency, having emerged the winner of the Nov. 17, 2018 by-election in the state.

The seat was declared vacant then following the death of its former occupant Hon. Funke Adedoyin after a brief illness.

Olawuyi, in a remark, attributed its victory to God, determination and the genuine struggle to free the people of the constituency from the shackles of underdevelopment, poverty and unemployment.

He thanked the people of the constituency, party leaders and supporters for considering him worthy of re-election.

"My sincere gratitude goes to God the almighty, my party leaders for believing in capability and party supporters for their dedication and steadfast that greatly contributed to this deserving victory.

"Our constituency is no doubt lacking behind in some many spheres of life endeavours, but we are very much determined more than ever toward ensuring unlimited dividend of democracy for our people," he said.