LAGOS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's ruling party's candidate for the southwest Ekiti State governorship election held on Saturday has been declared the winner by the country's electoral commission.

Idowu Olayinka, the Chief Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, said Kayode Fayemi, a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development and candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) polled 197,459 votes to emerge winner.

Olayinka made the declaration at the headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday.

Main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Kolapo Olusola, came second with 178,121 votes.

The PDP has, however, rejected the results, saying that the election was marred by irregularities and attacks of its members and supporters.

Fayemi is expected to take over from the incumbent, Ayo Fayose, on Oct. 16, 2018.

Meanwhile, the governor-elect has described his victory in Saturday's governorship election as one for reclaiming the land and restoring Ekiti values.

Fayemi, who spoke on Sunday while addressing the newsmen in Isan-Ekiti shortly after he was declared the winner of the governorship election, described his victory as significant to the future of democracy in Nigeria.