Seyi Makinde defeats closest rival with over 300,000 votes; re-elected Oyo governor

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 poll in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has been declared the election winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The incumbent governor defeated his challengers, including Labour Party (LP)’s Akinwale Tayo and a serving senator, Teslim Folarin of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Makinde polled 563,756 votes to defeat his closest rival who scored 256,685.

In his declaration of Makinde as the winner, INEC’s Returning Officer in the state, Prof Adebayo Simeon, 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.”

Makinde is 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 in the March 18 poll. With his declaration as the winner by INEC, Makinde survived the defeat suffered by other G5 members.