The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the July 14, 2018 Ekiti State governorship election. 

The primary which was held under a tight security featured 32 out of the 33 aspirants for the sole ticket.

Fayemi who was the governor of the state and APC governorship flagbearer in the 2014 governorship election, polled 941votes in a governorship primary held at a popular Event Centre in Ado Ekiti, the State capital on Saturday.

He defeated another former governor and immediate past APC national deputy chairman (South) Chief Segun Oni, who polled 481votes while Engineer Kayode Ojo came third, scoring 281votes

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Nasarawa State Governor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura said a total of 2,327 delegates were accredited out of 2618 delegates from the 16 local government areas.

The Special Assistant to President Buhari on political matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu who announced his withdrawal from the contest on Thursday,
got 10 votes in spite of his withdrawal from the poll. 

Fayemi in his acceptance speech commended the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by other contestants stressing that Ekiti state is yet to experience the desired turn around.

He promised to set up a candidate Advisory Committee which will include some of the contestants in the primary election and come up with plans to reposition the state.

Some of the contestants lauded the electoral process and security agencies for their efforts throughout the exercise.

Reports by Kunle Ojo