Ekiti 2026: Oyebanji’s critics must be wary of Zamfara scenario, group warns

…says Gov’s programmes tailored for Ekiti development

The Progress Mandate, a socio-political group in Ekiti State, has cautioned All Progressives Congress (APC) politicians in the state angling to contest the 2026 election against Governor Biodun Oyebanji to be wary of a ‘Zamfara scenario’ in the coming election.

The group, in a statement, said critics must stop making a spectacle and face the reality of Oyebanji’s popularity in the state, and must also desist from “their uninformed criticism of the administration.”

It warned APC members in the state to be careful not to ruin the chances of the party in the coming election, saying, “We must also warn those who once dragged the APC to court in 2022, seeking to derail its primaries, thereby risking a Zamfara-like fate for Ekiti.”

The Progress Mandate said: “But for Oyebanji’s victory at the judiciary, the APC in Ekiti would have been in ruins. Such elements lack respect for party discipline. We call on the national secretariat of the APC to invoke the constitution against them. Governor Oyebanji remains the pillar holding the APC in Ekiti intact.”

It reaffirmed its support for the re-election bid of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, saying the governor, through his programmes in Ekiti State, had merited their support and that of the majority of the Ekiti electorate for his re-election.

The group, in the statement, lauded Governor Oyebanji for his strategic approach to the governance of the state and said negative criticism of his policies was “ignorance masquerading as outrage.”

The Progress Mandate said: “Governor Oyebanji’s security blueprint is not just about defending Ekiti; it is about building a state where peace fuels progress, safety strengthens investment, and unity guarantees prosperity.”

It also reiterated its support for the governor in the statement signed by its Director-General, ‘Yomi Oso; its Director of Media and Public Communications, Dapo Ipoola; and Director of Monitoring, Research and Documentation, Adetunji Aribasoye.

They said in Oyebanji’s hands, security in Ekiti State “has become the anchor of development and the assurance that the Ekiti dream will never be broken.”

According to the group, its members in all the local government areas of the state were reaffirming their support for Governor Oyebanji and promising to work to ensure that his second term is achieved for the sustenance of good governance in the state.

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“We affirm the authentic progress that has redefined Ekiti under the leadership of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and to document our collective decision to reaffirm his endorsement for a second term, grounded in measurable achievements and inclusive development,” the group stated.

It added that “over the past years, Ekiti State has witnessed unprecedented renewal under the stewardship of Governor Oyebanji, whose visionary leadership and strong commitment to development have repositioned our dear state on the path of sustainable growth.

“His administration has not only kept faith with the people but has also demonstrated, through visible projects and policies, that governance is about impact, integrity, and inclusiveness.”

The Progress Mandate noted that “this progress has not come by chance, it is being driven by a well-laid-out development blueprint anchored on six strategic actionable pillars” namely Governance, Youth Development and Job Creation, Human Capital Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, and Arts and Culture.

The group added that “these pillars have not only provided direction but are also yielding concrete results that every Ekiti citizen can attest to.”

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