Ekiti 2026: Ignore purveyors of political rumours, Ekiti Speaker tells residents

… seeks mobilisation for INEC’s CVR exercise

Ahead of the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, the speaker of the House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, has called on the people of the state to ignore those spreading politically motivated rumours and blackmail in the state.

Aribasoye, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Babajide Agbeyo, explained that he was not surprised by the recent wave of rumours and blackmail flying around the state in the build-up to the election.

He reiterated that the Assembly remains committed to the collective success of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration, saying that the governor has delivered on his six-pillar shared prosperity agenda for the state.

Aribasoye, representing Ikole constituency two, dismissed reports of cracks between the executive and the legislative arm, noting that the cordial relationship between the two arms of government is in the interest of the development and program of the state.

The speaker said, “It is a season when mischief-makers and rumour peddlers may begin to fabricate and circulate fictitious stories about the Governor, the House of Assembly, and even the Presidency, noting that Ekiti is on the right track and will not be derailed for any reason.

“This is the season of disingenuous and manipulative interpretation of statements, actions, policies, and decisions of the executive and legislative arms of government. We are used to this, and we are prepared for them.

“I advise Ekiti people not to be swayed by fake news, false alarms, or the cheap blackmail of government and key figures in the state; the season has come, and will definitely pass.

“Proudly, the State House of Assembly, which moved ahead of the endorsement season to assess Governor Oyebanji’s performance, had also on October 16, 2024, unanimously adopted a motion moved by Hon. Tunde Oke that the social contract between the Governor and the people of Ekiti be extended beyond 2026.”

Aribasoye appealed to the people, especially those without PVCs, to take advantage of the forthcoming continuous voters registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be able to vote and demonstrate their support for Governor Oyebanji in the June 20, 2026, election.

He explained that the exercise, which is slated to begin on August 18 with online pre-registration, would afford those yet to register or just attain the voting age to register for their permanent voters’ cards.

Aribasoye said, “The need for citizens to be actively involved in the electoral process cannot be overemphasised. People who wish to be part of the making of leaders through voting must pay serious attention to all pre-election processes and procedures to validate their rights.

“If we are mobilising for the Governor to be re-elected, and trying to sustain the ruling party status of the APC, we must remember that getting our supporters to register should be a compulsory and integral part of our activities. Otherwise, we’ll only be gathering bigger crowds and fewer eligible voters.”

While commending INEC for its progressive improvements over the years, the Speaker urged the electoral body to fine-tune its arrangements to ensure a seamless and stress-free registration process for the Ekiti electorate.

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