2026: Oyebanji and his rising acceptance by Ekiti stakeholders

‘YOMI AYELESO writes on the increasing number of endorsements and support for the Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji for a second term ahead of the 2026 governorship election with the latest coming from the leaders and party stakeholders in the Central Senatorial District of the state.

IN just about two years and four months into his four-year tenure as Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji fondly referred to as ‘BAO’ by his admirers, has effectively changed governance narratives in the state which has resulted in his acceptability and series of endorsements from stakeholders for a second term in office.Oyeabanji who was sworn in on October 16,2022 as governor had disclosed that he would lead the state through his six-pillar shared prosperity agenda towards the improvement of the state’s economy through investment in education, infrastructure, human capital development, health, industrialisation including social welfare for the residents.

Even though it is just a little over half the tenure, it is safe to say that the administration has impacted significantly on the people across the 16 Local Government Areas with its policies and programmes. From road infrastructures, to massive investments in the health sector, to the regular payment of pensions and gratuities and including minimum wage payment to workers and the provision of succor and relief materials to the downtrodden, the people have been experiencing the dividends of democracy from the administration.

No doubt, governor Oyebanji’s unique, humble and inclusive leadership style has elevated governance to the admiration of people beyond party lines, resulting in calls for him to seek re-election in the 2026 governorship election. His disposition has also decimated the opposition voices in the state with opposition figures directly and indirectly declaring for the governor’s continuation in office beyond 2026 due to his achievements.

Party stakeholders and prominent leaders in the state, including former governors have all united towards a singular goal of contributing towards the development of the state because of the governor’s humility and his distinct style of governance.

It is worthy of note that leaders from the state such human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Wole Olanipekun; founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola have all commended the style of the governor which has made them to promise their support for the success of the administration in the interest of the state.

In the last few months, different groups, associations and prominent individuals have rolled out drums to declare support and endorsement for the governor to be re-elected and be in office till 2030. This act has been described as unprecedented in the state’s political history since 1999.

Earlier, the stakeholders from the southern senatorial district, teachers, pensioners, artisans and pressure groups had all drummed support for the governor’s re-election.

The latest of the such endorsements was the one of last Monday by stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Central Senatorial Districts, who gathered in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital to unanimously announce their support for the governor to seek re-election in the 2026 governorship election.

The event was attended by frontline leaders and members in the zone including a former acting governor, Tope Ademiluyi; former deputy governor, Professor Modupe Adelabu; senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; members of house of Representatives, representing the two federal constituencies in the district, Hon Sola Fatoba and Hon. Biodun Omoleye; former presidential aide, Senator Babafemi Ojudu;  federal commissioner representing Ekiti in Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMACF), Hon Wumi Ogunlola, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda, SAN; the state APC chairman, Chief Sola Eleshin, among others.

Speaking, the Chairman, Ekiti Central APC Stakeholders, Professor Adelabu explained that Oyebanji has been endorsed as the sole candidate for the next election slated for 2026. Adelabu said the action doesn’t abridge the rights of other APC members to contest for the plum seat. What the endorsement means, according to her, is that Oyebanji will get full and solid backing of all APC members in the senatorial district in the coming poll. 

The senate leader and lawmaker representing Ekiti Central senatorial district, Senator Bamidele said the action taken by party members signposted that they value continuity of good governance for Ekiti’s development to spiral.

The Senate Leader saluted all the past governors of the State: Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Engr Segun Oni, Chief Ayodele Fayose and Dr Kayode Fayemi for their contributions to the development of the state, stressing that the solid foundation they laid has helped the current governor to consolidate and fast track development of the state.

According to him, “Today, we are unveiling in the open what we have been saying to ourselves under the closed doors that Ekiti has never had it so good. We are very lucky to have Governor Oyebanji as our governor. What we are doing today is not a campaign, time for campaign is coming. All we are doing is to hold our regular APC senatorial meeting, this is symbolic and strategic to us.

“The frontline and greatest achievement of Governor Oyebanji is being able to unite everybody under one platform and umbrella. You may not understand what I meant by  Governor Oyebanji’s unity magic.

“But if you follow the trajectory of our politics in Ekiti State, particularly what happened in 2003 between Otunba Adebayo and Ayodele Fayose, and what we witnessed between Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi in 2007, then you will understand Oyebanji’s unity magic. All these leaders are now working together and all the achievements that Ekiti made under these past leaders are being consolidated under Governor Oyebanji.

“Beyond uniting Ekiti and bringing down governance from the Olympian height of the past to the grassroots, you will understand that he has given government, governance and our party back to ordinary people. Oyebanji is working and Ekiti is progressing. We have never had it so good.

“I thank the governor for uniting all of us and for taking Ekiti to the next level. We need continuity in Ekiti. If you go to Lagos before 1999 and you go there today, continuity has brought a new lease of life to that state, so the governor should continue with his good work till 2030.”

Senator Ojudu added that Oyebanji has done creditably well in unifying the party leaders and upscale development, especially focusing on human empowerment through Adire Ekiti Hub that has become the masterstroke policy turning around the lives of the citizens.

“This is the first time since 2003 when everybody will sleep with two eyes closed without fear of being killed in Ekiti. The governor is a unifier. No case of politically motivated killing under him. He has befriended his enemies and now has none. He is so humble and he must be elected for a second term and we will make sure he wins resoundingly,” he said. 

Responding, Governor Oyebanji, appreciated President Bola Tinubu and APC members for supporting him solidly to be able to take Ekiti to a mileage, in terms of development strides and for providing the platform to serve the people.

Oyebanji, who is also from the district, promised to continue to serve dedicatedly and with every fibre in his body to mitigate the poverty index and address the infrastructure deficit in the state, while appealing to party members to embark on aggressive mobilisation and be fair to all members.

The governor said, “ I am moved, very touched by this endorsement and I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart. When you gave me the ticket, I told you that I will always hear your voices. In the last two years , I have served you with humility and commitment.

“Myself and the Deputy Governor accept this with all humility. But this doesn’t preclude anyone who has governorship ambition on the platform of APC from showing interest. APC is a party that respects the right of every member to contest for any position of his choice. We are not afraid of competition.

“This is history being made today in Ekiti. When INEC lifts the ban on political campaigns, you will know that you have a good and acceptable governor.”

READ ALSO: Ado Ekiti’s transformation and Oyebanji’s ‘Slum to Wealth’ strategy