Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has fired back at his critics and opposition figures following his landslide re-election victory, declaring that no amount of online noise can replace votes at polling units.
Speaking in a video shared by Channels Television on Sunday, the governor dismissed the social media campaign waged against his administration, insisting that electoral success is determined at the grassroots, not on digital platforms.
“There is a saying that a farmer who has diligently tilled the ground does not need to fear the day of harvest,” Oyebanji remarked, drawing a clear connection between his performance in office and the overwhelming mandate he received from Ekiti voters.
He took a swipe at his opponents, describing them as “charlatans” who had invested their energy in online propaganda rather than meaningful political engagement with the people.
“That is my answer to all the shenanigans on social media,” he said, brushing aside the criticism that had dominated pre-election discourse.
The governor emphasised that performance, not online rhetoric, ultimately determines electoral outcomes.
“If you have done well, people will vote for you. But if you don’t have anything to say, other than to be going to media houses to grant interviews, telling lies against the government, stay on social media and whipping up sentiments, yesterday was the day of reckoning,” Oyebanji stated.
He further suggested that those who financed the opposition campaigns would now have to answer to their sponsors.
“I think there must be a reason, there must be a reason to tell the sponsors why they have lost,” he said.
Oyebanji described his re-election as marking a new chapter for Ekiti, one defined by consensus, peace and cooperation.
“Ekiti has taken a new course and is the dawn of a new era where consensus building, peace and harmony have become the trading currency of our political engagements,” he said.
Thanking the electorate for their confidence, the governor declared that “the best has just begun,” promising to intensify efforts on his administration’s programmes and improve the welfare of residents.
“We will rededicate ourselves even more strongly in implementing a shared prosperity agenda. We will speed up various projects and programs that are ongoing. We will work harder and smarter to serve you better,” he pledged.
He also assured that his administration would remain committed to tackling economic hardship and social inequality.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier declared Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress winner of the election after polling 319,224 votes across the state’s 16 local government areas.
His closest rival, Olumayokun Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party, polled 40,533 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress secured 12,872 votes.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described Oyebanji’s victory as a “reward for outstanding performance,” while Oyebanji himself framed the result as a reflection of the people’s confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
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