The deal is done, Ekiti people want Oyebanji back — Segun Dipe, APC spokesman

The spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Segun Dipe, in this interview with ‘YOMI AYELESO speaks on the party’s preparations for the June 20 governorship election, Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s performance, opposition criticisms, and expectations ahead of the poll.

THE 2026 governorship election is just a few days away. What has been the feedback from Ekiti people towards your party based on your interactions across the state?

The feedback has been tremendously encouraging. It has been wonderful. We have seen that, in truth, the people want Governor Oyebanji back in the saddle. They have seen and felt his good work during the first term, and they believe the best thing they can ask for and get is continuity. Instead of starting afresh and abandoning projects and programmes midway, they believe a second term will enhance continuity and ensure that projects that are halfway or three-quarters completed are fully completed and commissioned. They believe somebody who has started this good work should be allowed to perfect it. We had a bitter experience during the time of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi’s first tenure when there was a four-year interregnum before he returned. It was only after his return that projects like the Obafemi Awolowo Civic Centre and Pavilion could be completed because they had been abandoned. Even the airport had to be restarted at that point despite being flagged off during his first tenure. So, when we talk about continuity, we have compared it with what happens under cut-and-paste governments. The response has therefore been very encouraging. These remaining days are for us to dot the I’s and cross the T’s, visit people unit by unit and ward by ward, and ensure that what they have promised, they fulfill. That promise is giving Governor Biodun Oyebanji a second term back-to-back, without any interruption.In other words, the deal is done.

The opposition argues that despite the huge resources available to the state in the last three and a half years, the governor has not done enough. They point to only a few infrastructural projects and regular payment of salaries. What is your reaction?

I think it is rather cheeky for anyone to make such claims without facts and figures. They have not come up with the value of the projects executed, the roads constructed, the salaries paid, and all the developmental programmes carried out, and then compared those figures with the resources that came into the state. If they had conducted a proper audit and said: “This is the worth of the projects completed, this is the value of salaries paid, this is the worth of all government activities and infrastructure provided, this is the money that came in, and this is the balance,” then we could say they are speaking with facts. But it is too generic and speculative to simply say that somebody has not done enough compared to what he has received. If you cannot state precisely what he received and cannot compare it with what he has delivered, then it is merely guesswork. To suggest that he has not done enough compared to what he receives is, frankly, a blunder. That is not how to drive home an argument. In the days of the UPN and NPN, what we had was what you could call a parallel government. Opposition figures came out with facts and figures and compared them with those of the government. That was genuine criticism merely making sweeping allegations amounts to nothing. We simply see it as a display of ignorance and opposition politics.

Specifically, what would you point to as Governor Oyebanji’s major achievements in the last three and a half years that justify giving him another four years?

Thank you. The first thing we need to do is compare what he promised with what he has achieved. Has he fulfilled the six pillars of his administration? Has he worked along those six pillars? My answer is an outright yes. The pillars are governance; youth development and job creation; human capital development; agriculture and rural development; infrastructure and industrialisation; and arts, culture and tourism. Day after day, we have examined these pillars and realised that he has done more than enough in each of them. In governance, more than N100 billion has been committed to workers and pensioners since October 2022. In terms of gratuities, over N10 billion has been paid and the payments are still ongoing. Salaries, pensions and other obligations have been met. When organisations assessing budget and fiscal transparency gave him a score of 97 per cent, it showed he has done remarkably well in governance. In youth development, we have seen the launch of an initiative through which 5,000 youths were engaged in agriculture. Farm settlements were revived. Skill acquisition centres were established for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), who were trained, accommodated, paid stipends and empowered. In human capital development, which covers health and education, we have seen extensive renovation of general hospitals and primary healthcare centres. More than 100 healthcare facilities have been rehabilitated. Classrooms have been constructed and renovated, while science and ICT education have received attention. In agriculture and rural development, we have seen large hectares of land cleared for cultivation.Farmers have been supported, while over 2,000 farmers benefited through the Agricultural Transformation Centre initiative. In infrastructure and industrialisation, we have seen major road projects, the recently commissioned flyover at Ijigbo, now named the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Flyover, and the airport project, which was approved for commercial flights in December 2025. In arts, culture and tourism, we have seen the establishment of endowment funds, the promotion of Ikogosi Warm Springs, work on cultural infrastructure such as museums, and the Community Tourism Enterprise programme. The point I am making is that when you examine these six pillars, you will see that he has touched every one of them and fulfilled the promises he made to the people. He has done what he promised and is ready to do even more if given another term.

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The opposition insists that despite these projects and programmes, ordinary citizens have not really felt the impact. What is your response?

I do not know which opposition is saying that, but it depends on what people choose to see. On a lighter note, I can say that someone has food in his pocket and people will start looking at him. Even when he explains otherwise, some people will still insist on believing what they want to believe. So it depends on the position they choose to take. Who are the people saying their lives have not been touched? All 177 wards have been impacted. The 16 local governments and the LCDAs have all benefited. What else do they expect? Should the governor start constructing projects on the moon or move to another state to execute projects? If it is Ekiti State, he has done what he promised and even exceeded expectations. Civil servants will attest to that. Pensioners will attest to it. Youths will attest to it. Market women, artisans, drivers and workers will attest to it. Today, workers receive their salaries on the 25th of every month. Ekiti is essentially a civil service state. Ensuring prompt salary payment means people can plan their lives, pay school fees, support their families and live with certainty. The roads that have been constructed have reduced traffic congestion, especially in Ado-Ekiti. The city has become easier to navigate. Local government headquarters have been touched and communities across the state have benefited. Go to places like the new roads and ongoing construction sites and see for yourself. These same critics drive on the roads that have been built. They have relatives in the civil service who receive salaries regularly. Youths are benefiting from agriculture programmes. People obtain healthcare services from upgraded facilities. What else are they expecting that has not been done?

Ahead of the election, there have been accusations that opposition figures and critics are being intimidated, harassed and arrested. Why are such allegations emerging? Is the ruling party jittery?

If they think our working harder than they do amounts to being jittery, then we have no apology for that. We are not merely chasing victory; we want to make history. We are targeting over 500,000 votes. That means we are working hard, visiting wards and polling units, and engaging with voters. If they interpret that as nervousness, that is their business. Regarding security issues, it has become fashionable for anyone arrested for one offence or another to claim it is because of politics. People who engage in violence, kidnapping, stealing or other criminal acts are arrested and then suddenly become opposition members in the public narrative. I have not seen any pastor arrested for supporting the opposition. I have not seen any teacher, civil servant or Imam claim they were arrested simply because they belonged to the opposition. If anyone can genuinely say, “I committed no offence and was arrested solely because of my political affiliation,” let them come forward. Until then, we believe law enforcement agencies are simply carrying out their duties and arresting offenders. Society cannot permit lawlessness. For now, we regard those allegations as speculation, assumptions and propaganda.

As voters in Ekiti State prepare to go to the polls, what message does the APC have for them?

First, we want to thank everyone. We want to encourage people not to allow voter apathy to set in. It is possible for some people to think that because they believe the APC will win, there is no need for them to vote. That is not correct. Go out and exercise your democratic right. Vote and stand by your vote. Make your vote count. Do not disrupt activities at polling units. Be calm and reasonable. Do not argue with security operatives or engage in unnecessary confrontations with opposition supporters. Even if provoked, remain calm. Your focus should be on ensuring that your candidate wins at your polling unit. We encourage voters to be peaceful and to exercise their franchise responsibly. We are confident that Governor Oyebanji will emerge victorious at the end of the day. We are discouraging voter apathy because nobody is going to stop people from voting. There will be no hindrance and no room for rascality. Everything will be peaceful.