● APC’s AbdulRazaq Reelected Kwara Governor

Governor Seyi Makinde, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 governorship election in Oyo State, has been declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He defeated his challengers including Labour Party (LP)’s Akinwale Tayo as well as a serving senator, Teslim Folarin of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The incumbent governor, who was seeking reelection, polled 563,756 votes to defeat his closest rival who scored 256,685 in the results of the 33 local governments in the South-West states.Makinde

The INEC Returning Officer in the state, Prof Adebayo Simeon, declaring Makinde as the winner, said: “That Makinde Oluseyi Abiodun of the PDP, having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected by the Returning Officer, Prof Adebayo Simeon on this day 19th of March 2023.”

Channels Television reports that before Saturday, Makinde was the last of the PDP G5 or Integrity Group with an election. Already, Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Samuel Ortom (Benue), who have been in office for eight years each, all lost their senatorial bid while Nyesom Wike (Rivers) who is also completing his second term as governor didn’t run for any elective post.

With the defeat of three of his comrades, all eyes were on Makinde before the March 18 poll. However, with his declaration as the winner by INEC, Makinde survived the defeat suffered by other G5 members.

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

Also, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has been reelected for another four-year term.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate polled 273,424 to defeat his closest opponents — Abdullah Yahman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 155,490 and Hakeem Lawal of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who got 18,922 votes.