Tinubu, Oyebanji’s Endorsement as Springboard for Fresh Terms

Raheem Akingbolu reflects on the Monday, July 28 endorsement rally in Ekiti, for Governor Biodun Oyebanji and President Bola Tinubu

One week after, the feedback from the Monday, July 28, 2025, endorsement rally organised by Stakeholders in support of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is still reverberating across the country. For many reasons, especially in the areas of quality and quantity of attendance, the event achieved more than the set-out objectives of the organisers.

To this end, political commentators and analysts, both online and offline, have admitted that the mega endorsement would go down in the history of Ekiti as the most spectacular political rally ever held in the state.

Few days before the date, politicians, professional bodies and even the neutrals had taken to various platforms, preparing the minds of Nigerians within the country and in the Diaspora that the state was set to organise a massive endorsement rally in support of Governor Oyebanji and President Tinubu ahead the the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti and 2027 Presidential election respectively.

However, 24 hours before the proposed rally, the atmosphere in Ekiti became charged and gave the semblance of a mega rally or inauguration of a new administration. The city of Ado Ekiti wore a new look as dignitaries started trooping in, in large numbers. It was so conspicuous and loud that even a deaf and dumb could fathom that something big was under wrap. According to an investigation carried out by this reporter, hotels and private apartments in the town and environs had been fully booked by Saturday, July 26.

Despite all the build ups and the signals, nobody expected the attendance to surpass any previous rallies and political gathering ever held in the town. But that was what happened. Ekiti witnessed the biggest crowd ever.

As early as 7am on Monday, July 28, many popular spots in Ado Ekiti like Fajuyi Park, Obafemi Awolowo Civic Center, New Iyin road and in particular, the Ekiti Parapo pavilion, where the event would hold had all filled to the brims. As various groups were assembling with different mobile musical bands, ecstasy rented the air. By 8.30am, vehicular and human traffics took over the popular bank road and Awedele road as they moved in hundreds towards the venue.

By 9.30am, the Ekiti Parapo venue had become jampacked. Within and outside the expansive event centre, most of the attendees cladded in vests bearing the pictures of President Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji. In a blaze of pomp and drums, the crowd bombarded the venue to seek both leaders’ nod to accede to their calls to offer themselves for second terms in office.

Among other things, the event further laid credence to the unbridled love the people of Ekiti have for President Tinubu. It was the second time their love would be practically displayed. In the build-up to the presidential election two years ago, Governor Oyebanji and other All Progressives Congress leaders from Ekiti had assured Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the party that the people of Ekiti would demonstrate their love towards the party and its candidate at the poll. Few days later, the election took place and the promise was fulfilled. The APC’s presidential candidate Bola Tinubu didn’t only win the most votes in Ekiti, the result from the state was the first to be announced. Tinubu won 201,494 votes in Ekiti state.

Meanwhile, during the campaign, Tinubu had enthusiastically announced that if he won the election, he would support Governor Oyebanji to ensure Ekiti witnessed the needed development under the governor. This perhaps explains the father/son relationship that has existed between the two leaders since the beginning of the Tinubu administration. Again, Ekiti has not gotten it this good under any president in Nigeria in terms of federal appointments. Some of the offices occupied by Ekiti people are; the office of the Senate leader, a cabinet minister, Chief of Army Staff, Chairman EFCC and the head of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Chairman, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Chairman, Southwest Developemnt Commission.

Therefore, the Monday, July 28 endorsement rally could be described as a payback time for both the President and the Governor.

For Oyebanji, a lot of factors won him the love of Ekiti people. One, he has endeared himself to Ekiti people through his ‘Omoluabi’ character and deliberate decision to assume the position of a bridge builder and a peace maker, especially among Ekiti leaders, within and outside politics. This explains why the Governor’s second term bid is enjoying the support of leaders across boards, including those outside the APC fold. Another factor that has consistently worked for Oyebanji lies in his giant strides in education, infrastructure, healthcare, Agriculture and human capital development, with attendant positive impact on the lives of the citizens.

In a way, the endorsement rally was a subtle way by Ekiti people to tell the world that they were satisfied with the Governor’s performance. In this regard, some of the leaders who spoke at the rally commended Governor Oyebanji for his commitment to Ekiti development. Looking back in the last two and half years, the governor has shown exemplary leadership in his commitment to the completion of all development projects initiated during the past administration, building on the legacies of the previous administration, thereby demonstrating the beauty of continuity and his unwavering dedication to the people of the state by focusing on initiatives that would improve the quality of life for the residents.

Besides, Governor Oyebanji has endeared himself to Ekiti people with his superlative performance evident in the various people-centred projects in different parts of the state.

Since he assumed office, Oyebanji has characteristically kept his calm, remained focused, and delivered on his electoral promises. He has in the past three years been silently doing the job which he was elected to do; he has been studiously changing the infrastructural landscape of the state; the governor and his team have touched every part of the state without over blowing it and he has judiciously managed the resources of the state. Also, since assuming office, Governor Oyebanji has championed inclusive, participatory governance, transparency and infrastructural renewal. The hallmarks of Oyebanji’s administration are open-door policy, collaborative leadership and strategic reforms.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tertiary Education, Prof. Hakeem Mayowa Azeez, the endorsement rally became necessary for the people of Ekiti to speak with one voice and assure the two leaders that the people are with them.

He said, “This mega endorsement is the peak of various endorsements by interest groups in the state in the last few months. This is organised to unravel the reason behind the self-effacing personality of GovernorOyebanji. Yes, he may, by his nature and from afar look like a quiet fellow, but when one gets closer, the picture of a top class performer suffices; of someone who understands the challenges of governance and what it takes to preside over an agrarian state like Ekiti.”

The University lecturer said when the opportunity came up for people to experess thenselves, they had but little choice than to give Oyenbanji’s second term bid a positive consideration. He also pointed out that Ekiti people home and abroad are particularly happy with Governor Oyebanji because of what the governor has been doing and why the state has been peaceful and progressive under him.

At the rally, leaders, including the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, the national secretary of the APC, Basir Ajibola and former governors, all spoke glowingly about the performances of both President Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji.

Reacting to the people’s verdict which favoured him and the president, Governor Oyebanji, thanked the people of the state for their love for him as shown in thd turn out for the endorsement for a second term in office.

Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, said, “It must be stated that I am most humbled by your vote of confidence and we shall continue to work assiduously towards making Ekiti attain the heights that we will all be proud of.”

The Governor added, “Yesterday (Monday) was not only a remarkable day, it was a watershed in the history of our dear state, and we thank God Almighty for the hugely successful political gathering.”

Meanwhile, the rally has generated views across many media platforms, with analysts admitting that it was a landmark boost to the second term bid of both Tinubu and Oyebanji.