The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle Don of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the keenly contested Ibadan North Federal Constituency bye-election.
The declaration was made at the Ibadan North Collation Centre, Ikolaba High School, by the INEC Returning Officer, Professor Abiodun Oluwadare of the University of Ibadan.
According to the official results, Hon. Folajimi Don secured a resounding 18,404 votes, defeating his closest rival, Hon. Adewale Olatunji Murphy of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 8,312 votes—a wide margin that has sent ripples across the political landscape.
With this emphatic victory, Hon. Oyekunle Don will officially replace the late representative of Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Hon. Musliu Olaide Akinremi (Jagaban), whose passing necessitated the bye-election.
Political observers and party loyalists have hailed the PDP’s landslide victory as a strong testament to the party’s renewed popularity and the people’s confidence in its leadership.
This triumph also marks a historic return for the PDP, as the party has successfully reclaimed the federal constituency seat for the first time since 2011.
Following the declaration, jubilant supporters took to the streets of Ibadan North in celebration, describing the outcome as a “coast-to-coast victory” and a clear indication that the PDP remains the party of the people in Oyo State.
The victory further consolidates the PDP’s dominance in the state, aligning with Governor Seyi Makinde’s enduring legacy of good governance, which many believe played a major role in boosting voter confidence in Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle Don.