Ekiti 2022: Oyebanji debunks vote buying reports

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ekiti State governorship election, Biodun Oyebanji has debunked stories that he engaged in vote buying in Ikogosi Ekiti.

Oyebanji in a statement said the report being turned around was when he appreciated an elderly woman who greeted him on his way home.

According to the APC candidate, he enjoyed overwhelming support in Ikogosi Ekiti where he hails from.

“The attention of the media team of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has been drawn to a ridiculous news item making the rounds that Oyebanji gave voters money in Ikogosi Ekiti.

“Contrary to the blackmailing report, neither Oyebanji, nor any of his supporters gave money to anybody at any polling unit in Ikogosi. Aside from being Oyebanji’s town, the candidate enjoys overwhelming support  in the community with optimism of recording a 100 percent result.

“The true picture of what happened in Ikogosi was that after casting his vote, the candidate was walking home and responding to greetings from his kinsmen. Then an elderly woman, accosted him and started praying and dancing. In appreciation of the old woman’s gesture, Oyebanji gave her money and continued walking without any verbal exchange.

“Appreciating the elderly in this context is the culturally appropriate response in that community. To give a respectful gesture any political connotation is not only ridiculous, it’s an affront to cultural norms of the Yoruba race.

“The APC Candidate is very confident of victory in the elections and has no reason to violate the electoral act in any way or form,” the statement read.