Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, sworn in as new Ekiti State governor, has retooled the administration with appointment of two principal officers.
Oyebanji, 54, won the governorship race on June 18 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the same party with Kayode Fayemi, and took the oath of office at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion on Sunday, October 16.
A candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he was declared winner of the Ekiti governorship election on June 19 with 187,057 votes.
Related news: Oyebanji to replace Fayemi after Grabbing Ekiti Governorship seat
The former Secretary to the state government defeated his two closest challengers, Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who polled 82,211 votes, and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 67,457 votes.
At exactly 12:53 pm on Sunday, Oyebanji took over from Dr. Fayemi whose four-year tenure ended at midnight on Saturday.
Fayemi had served a first term from 2010 to 2014 and was Minister of Solid Mineral Development in the intervening period.
He had served the out-gone governor as Secretary to the state government and Chief of Staff to the Governor.
Earlier, 64-year-old Chief (Mrs) Monisade Christiana Afuye had been sworn in as the Deputy Governor.
Oyebanji appoints two principal officers
Few hours after his inauguration, the new Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji appointed Dr Habitat Omolara Adubiaro as the new Secretary to the State Government.
The Governor also appointed Mr Yinka Oyebode as his Chief Press Secretary.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the head of Service, Mr Bamidele Agbede said that the appointment is with immediate effect.
Oyebode had served the immediate past governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi in that capacity for 12 years.
Oyebanji has frozen all accounts of the State Government with immediate effect.
This was contained in a statement by Oyebode, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor directing all accounting officers and financial institutions are urged to comply with this directive.
Meanwhile, the Northern Governors Forum has hailed the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Fayemi, for a victorious tenure and a proof of success.
The Forum said Fayemi bore out many people-oriented projects that influenced the citizens of Ekiti State and put the state on the trail of advancement.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, made the commendations through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Makut Macham, on Sunday, saying Governor Fayemi discharged his duties with passion, commitment and excellence during his tenure.