Ekiti 2026: I want to break jinx of interrupted tenure, Oyebanji tells APC NWC

Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji has assured the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee that he would break the jinx of interrupted tenure of incumbent Governor in Ekiti state.

He gave the assurance on Wednesday at the party’s national secretariat at an elaborate event to submit his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms. The party’s primary to produce its candidate for the July 2026 governorship election is slated for next month.

Findings revealed that since the creation of Ekiti State, former governors on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, Ayodele Fayose and his counterpart in the APC, Dr Kayode Fayemi, served two terms, but not in quick succession.

Governor Oyebanji who recalled that the interrupted tenures of incumbent Governors have retarded economic growth in the state, said he was determined to break the jinx.

While he gave assurance not to arm-twist any of the contenders slugging for the ticket with him, Governor Oyebanji urged the party to create a level playing field for all in the forthcoming primary.

He said: “There’s a request we are pleading that we have come for.
And this is very dear to the heart of everybody from the Ekiti state. Since the creation of the Ekiti state, no government has done a second term. No government in Ekiti State has done a second term in a stretch.

“You know, they will go, they will come back. And this has hit us on the canvas. It has retarded the development of the state.

“If the people have chosen to come in this number, to plead with you, to help us remove this reproach from us as a state, we see it as a jinx that must be broken. “We see it as a reproach that has retarded our growth as a state. We don’t want current gains to be reversed.

“We have absolute confidence in the ability of national leadership to conduct a free and fair primary. We also recognize the rights of anybody, as loyal party member, who is qualified to contest. I said so, loyal party member.

“We will subject ourselves to primary election. We will play by the rules. And we assure you that you have seen it.

“We just wanted to come here to plead with you that the only thing that is standing against Ekiti people and development is this come-and-go attitude of governors. You know, it’s not in our best interest as a people. And by the same grace of God, I have a divine mandate to break that jinx.
And that jinx will be broken because God sent us for this purpose.”

In his response, National Vice Chairman, South West, Honourable Isaacs Kekemeke, assured Governor Oyebanji that the party national secretariat would do the needful to ensure a seamless primary.

He said the APC NWC was impressed with the massive support for Governor Oyebanji by all stakeholders in Ekiti State chapter.

“We have seen you and we have heard you. We have never witnessed a submission of form like this before.

“Ekiti is not new to me, I know the leadership.

“We are umpires, we will do what you say. This is the groundwork for what we need to do by June of next year.

“We must demonstrate by next year that Ekiti is one. The governor and his team came to make a statement, and that statement had been loudly made and we seen and heard you clearly.”

In his remarks, Senator representing Ekiti Central and Leader of the Senate, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, declared that Governor Bamidele landmark achievements would earn him the party ticket and ultimately, fresh tenure at the next year off-season elections.

“Our governor has delivered on infrastructure, human capital development, and stability. All stakeholders in Ekiti — past governors, current and former lawmakers, and leaders across party lines — are on the same page. This is the first time we are seeing such broad consensus.”

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