2003 Ekiti State gubernatorial election
{{short description|2003 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, Nigeria}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2003 Ekiti State gubernatorial election
| country = Nigeria
| flag_image = {{flagicon|NGR}}
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1999 Ekiti State gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1999
| next_election = 2007 Ekiti State gubernatorial election
| next_year = 2007
| election_date = April 19, 2003
| turnout =
| image_size =
| image1 =
| nominee1 = Ayo Fayose
| running_mate1 = Abiodun Olujimi
| party1 = People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| popular_vote1 = 219,906
| percentage1 =
| image2 =
| nominee2 = Niyi Adebayo
| running_mate2 =
| party2 = Alliance for Democracy (Nigeria)
| popular_vote2 = 168,391
| percentage2 =
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = Governor
| before_election = Niyi Adebayo
| before_party = Alliance for Democracy (Nigeria)
| after_election = Ayo Fayose
| after_party = People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
}}
The 2003 Ekiti State gubernatorial election occurred on April 19, 2003.{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=2003+kaduna+governorship+election+results |title=Nigeria Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections 2003 |publisher=EU Election Observation Mission |location=Abuja |format=PDF |date=April 22, 2003 |access-date=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://africanelections.tripod.com/id85.html |title=19 April 2003 Gubernatorial Elections in Nigeria |publisher=African Elections Database |access-date=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://dawodu.com/aluko44.htm |title=A Preliminary Forensic Analysis of INEC's Website So Far |last=Aluko |first=Mobolaji E. |date=April 28, 2003 |publisher=Dawodu.com |access-date=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/212733/Nigeria-general-elections_12-&-19-April-03-May-20016_EU-EOM-report.pdf|title=Nigeria General Elections 12 & 19 April 2003 and 03 May 2003|publisher=European Union Election Observation Mission|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/412eef5b4.html|title=Nigeria's 2003 Elections: The Unacknowledged Violence |publisher=Ref World|access-date=May 22, 2021}} PDP's Ayo Fayose won election for a first tenure, defeating Incumbent Governor, AD's Niyi Adebayo and three other candidates.{{Cite web |url=http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/2003/apr/22/072.html|url-status=live |title=PDP captures 27 states; ANPP-7; AD-1 l Obasanjo set for victory |date=April 22, 2003 |publisher=Biafra Nigeria World.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327221428/http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/2003/apr/22/072.html |access-date=May 20, 2021|archive-date=March 27, 2013 }}{{Cite web
|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nigeria_federal_states.htm
|title=Nigerian States
|publisher=World Statesmen
|access-date=2021-05-23| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100528072649/http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nigeria_federal_states.htm| archive-date= 28 May 2010 | url-status= live}}{{Cite journal|publisher=Wiley Online Library|journal=Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series|volume=40|issue=4|pages=15255–15290|title=Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series, April 1st-30th 2003 Published May 29th 2003|date=May 23, 2003
|doi=10.1111/1467-825X.00177|url=https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-825X.00177|access-date=May 23, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201406231131.html|title=Nigeria: Fayose Wins Ekiti Guber Poll|date=June 22, 2014|publisher=Leadership|location=Abuja|website=All Africa|access-date=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://m.guardian.ng/life/peter-ayodele-fayose-the-ekiti-powerhouse/|title=Peter Ayodele Fayose: The Ekiti Powerhouse|author=Dimeji-Ajayi, Damilola|date=November 15, 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/24/world/africa/24nigeria.html|title=Money and Violence Hobble Democracy in Nigeria|date=November 24, 2006|work=New York Times|access-date=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://m.guardian.ng/politics/for-southwest-pdp-its-time-to-repeat-2003-victories/amp/|title=For Southwest PDP, it's time to repeat 2003 victories|author=Bello, Niyi|date=July 20, 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=May 26, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.proshareng.com/news/Politics/-Elections2019--Peter-Ayodele-Fayose%E2%80%99s-Profile/38750|title=#Elections2019: Peter Ayodele Fayose's Profile|publisher=Proshare WebTV|date=March 6, 2018|access-date=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/fayose-dr-peter-ayodele/|title=FAYOSE, Dr. Peter Ayodele|date=November 16, 2018 |publisher=Blerf|access-date=May 25, 2021}}
Ayo Fayose emerged winner in the PDP gubernatorial primary election. His running mate was Abiodun Olujimi.{{Cite web|url=https://rainbownigeria.com/2020/10/08/state-governors-and-their-deputies/|title=State Governors and Their Deputies|author=Emmanuel, Odang|website=Rainbow Nigeria|access-date=May 31, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/116770-i-have-settled-rift-with-fayose-ex-ekiti-deputy-governor.html|title=I have settled rift with Fayose- ex-Ekiti deputy governor|author=Ayobami, Abimbola|date=January 23, 2013|publisher=Premium Times|access-date=May 25, 2021}}
Electoral system
The Governor of Ekiti State is elected using the plurality voting system.
Results
A total of five candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamji.com/aluko/aluko46.htm |title=NIGERIAN ELECTIONS 2003: Update 006: Nigerian Presidential & Gubernatorial Candidates |last=Aluko |first=Mobolaji E. |date=February 23, 2003 |publisher=Gamji |access-date=May 20, 2021}} PDP candidate Ayo Fayose won election for a first tenure, defeating AD Incumbent Governor, Niyi Adebayo, and three other candidates.{{Cite web |url=https://nigeriaworld.com/focus/states/governors2003.html |title=Nigerian State Elected Governors 2003 |publisher=Nigeriaworld |date=September 6, 2003 |editor=Odili, Chuck E. |access-date=May 20, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61586.htm|title=Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor 2005
|date=March 8, 2006|publisher=US Department of State|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite web|url= https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/53451/Nyam_Analysis_2015.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
|title=AN ANALYSIS OF THE 2003 AND 2007 ELECTORAL VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA|author=Aondowase, Nyam|year=2015|format=PDF|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite journal|author=Onoja, Adoyi|title=Nature, Character and Outcomes of Post Election Challenges in Nigeria|journal=Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria|volume=18|date=2009|pages=79–104|publisher=Historical Society of Nigeria|jstor=41854929|format=JSTOR|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41854929|access-date=May 23, 2021}}{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://www.intechopen.com/books/elections-a-global-perspective/electoral-behavior-and-politics-of-stomach-infrastructure-in-ekiti-state-nigeria-|chapter=Electoral Behavior and Politics of Stomach Infrastructure in Ekiti State (Nigeria)|author=Omilusi, Mike|title=Elections - A Global Perspective|date=February 6, 2019|doi=10.5772/intechopen.81387|isbn=978-1-78985-025-3|s2cid=159303454|access-date=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2019/11/16/in-pictures-fayemi-attends-the-wedding-of-fayoses-son/|title=In pictures: Fayemi attends the wedding of Fayose's son|date=November 16, 2019|publisher=The News Nigeria|access-date=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://m.guardian.ng/politics/ekiti-deputy-governor-seeks-support-in-guber-poll/amp/|title=Ekiti deputy governor seeks support in guber poll|author=Afolabi, Ayodele|location=Ado-Ekiti|date=January 23, 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=May 25, 2021}}
The total number of registered voters in the state was 981,753. However, only 43.47% (i.e. 426,731) of registered voters participated in the exercise.{{Cite web |url=https://dawodu.com/aluko50.htm |title=What Happened in the South-West – The Myth of Massive Repudiation & Enthusiastic Acceptance |author=Aluko, Mobolaji E. |location=Burtonsville, MD, USA |date=May 25, 2003 |publisher=Dawodu.com |access-date=May 19, 2021}}{{Cite journal |url=https://web.ccsu.edu/afstudy/upd11-4.html |title=The 2003 Elections in Nigeria: Views from a Policy Maker |author=Akinyele, T. A. |journal=Africa Update |publisher=CCSU |volume=XI |issue=4 |date=Fall 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2021}}
{{Election results
|cand1=Ayo Fayose|party1=People's Democratic Party (PDP)|votes1=219906
|cand2=Niyi Adebayo|party2=Alliance for Democracy (AD)|votes2=168391
|cand3=Reuben Famuyibo|party3=All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)|votes3=
|cand4=|party4=United Nigeria People's Party (UNPP)|votes4=
|cand5=Femi Falana|party5=National Conscience Party (NCP)|votes5=
|invalid=
|electorate=981753
|source=Gamji, Africa Update, Dawodu
}}