FROM OLYMPIAN HEIGHT TO THE GRASSROOTS

 Home support sets tone for Oyebanji’s re-election bid in Ekiti, writes ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, is poised to enjoy a formidable support from the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure of party leaders and members in his senatorial district who had proclaimed him as their sole candidate ahead of the party’s governorship primaries and the main governorship election in 2026.

This is consequent upon a resounding call for continuity for Oyebanji’s governance of the state till 2030 by APC leaders and members in Ekiti Central Senatorial at a recent meeting cum endorsement event, in Ado-Ekiti, where the leaders affirmed that the Governor has performed excellently well in office to deserve a re-election in 2026.

Apart from Oyebanji’s widely acknowledged commendable performance in two-and a half years on the saddle, which they said had touched virtually all sectors, the Ekiti Central APC leaders hinged their decision on what they called the noble character of the governor . Such character, according to them, included Oyebanji’s peaceful disposition, inclusive style of leadership, probity and accountability, street credibility, populism and down-to-earth connection with the ordinary people in the grassroots, benevolence and generosity, paying attention to details and promoting the image of the party and making it attractive to the electorate among others.

According to the leaders, Oyebanji has diligently and conscientiously implemented his administration’s six-pillar agenda touching every part of the state with life-changing policies and projects, opening up the state to development, improving the standard of living of the populace and attracting more development partners and investors to the Land of Honour. What was planned originally as a senatorial leaders’ meeting, later snowballed into a rally at the Fajuyi Pavilion in the heart of Ado Ekiti, the state capital with party members from all the five local government areas making up the district namely, Ado Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ekiti West, Efon and Ijero.

It is noteworthy that the endorsement by the Ekiti Central APC leaders came barely two months after that of their counterparts from Ekiti South senatorial district. This shows that the governor has been adopted by party leaders and members from two out of the three senatorial districts with the support base keeps widening by the day.

For any aspirant or candidate to succeed in an election as lofty and grand like the governorship, overwhelming support from his or her home base is very key. The APC is the ruling party in Ekiti State and with no dissent to Oyebanji’s re-election bid within the party, the coast appears to be clear for the governor to clinch the state’s number one seat again.

The unanimity of key leaders in the senatorial zone in throwing their weight behind Oyebanji for another term in office is a strategic masterstroke by the APC to ensure unity and foreclose any post-primary acrimony that usually beset such contests.

The progressives had witnessed acrimonious primaries in the past judging by the experience of 2006, 2014, 2018 while that of 2022 resulted in a court case by an aggrieved aspirant but the peace and unity presently enjoyed by the party under Oyebanji’s leadership is tilting towards a coronation for the governor.

Going by his character of showing respect to party leaders, Oyebanji has secured the backing of the Senator representing the District and Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; the two House of Representatives members from the District, Rep. Olusola Fatoba and Rep. Biodun Omoleye; former Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu with an earlier support by the first elected Governor of the state, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and other critical stakeholders within and outside the party, Ekiti Central is already secured for the Governor.

With all the aforementioned party bigwigs behind Oyebanji, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju and other Assembly members, Commissioners and Special Advisers who are members of State Executive Council, Local Government Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Councilors, Supervisors and Advisers, Local Government Party Chairmen and executive members are also queuing behind the Governor to ensure his re-election.

Ekiti Central, a densely populated district, is key in the political dynamics of Ekiti State. Prominent towns in the district include Ado, Iworoko, Are, Afao, Igbemo, Igede, Aramoko, Ijero, Ikoro, Ipoti, Erio, Efon Alaaye, Okemesi, Erijiyan, Ikogosi, Ipole Iloro, with a good number of the towns having farmsteads with votes that can make a difference.

Setting the tone for the historic endorsement through a resolution presented to the APC Acting State Chairman, Chief Sola Elesin through a letter transmitted to the Governor, by former Deputy Governor and Chairman, Ekiti Central APC Stakeholders, Prof Modupe Adelabu, the party restated that Oyebanji has been endorsed as the sole candidate for the next election slated for 2026.

However, Prof Adelabu clarified that the endorsement doesn’t abridge the rights of other interested APC members from seeking the party’s nod from contesting for the governorship seat. She noted: “What this endorsement means is that Governor Oyebanji will get full and solid backing of all APC members in the senatorial district in the coming poll.”

Senate Leader Bamidele, said the action taken by party members showed that they value continuity of good governance for Ekiti’s development adding that Oyebanji is enjoying the support of prominent party office holders because of his superlative performance and bringing key leaders together which is a radical departure from what was witnessed in the state in the past.

He said: “Today, we are unveiling in the open what we have been saying to ourselves under the closed doors that Ekiti has never had it so good. We are very lucky having Governor Biodun Oyebanji as our governor. What we are doing today is not a campaign, time for campaign is coming. All we are doing is to hold our regular APC senatorial meeting, this is symbolic and strategic to us.

“The frontline and greatest achievement of Governor Oyebanji is being able to unite everybody under one platform and umbrella. You may not understand what I meant by Governor Oyebanji’s unity magic. But if you follow the trajectory of our politics in Ekiti State, particularly what happened in 2003 between Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Ayodele Fayose, and what we witnessed between Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi in 2007, then you will understand Oyebanji’s unity magic. All these leaders are now working together and all the achievements that Ekiti made under these past leaders are being consolidated under Governor Oyebanji.

“Beyond uniting Ekiti and bringing down governance from the Olympian height of the past to the grassroots, you will understand that he has given government, governance and our party back to ordinary people. Oyebanji is working and Ekiti is progressing. We have never had it so good. I thank the governor for uniting all of us and for taking Ekiti to the next level of development. We need continuity in Ekiti. If you go to Lagos before 1999 and you go there today, continuity has brought a new lease of life to that state, so the governor should continue with his good work till 2030.”

Another party leader, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, said Oyebanji deserves re-election for superintending over a peaceful atmosphere in the state noting that “Ekiti has not witnessed any politically-motivated killing since the Governor assumed office in 2022. Ojudu, who represented Ekiti Central in the 8th National Assembly lauded the Governor for promoting local enterprise and empowerment of the youth, citing the example of the massive production of local fabric known as Adire Ekiti which is growing in leaps and bounds

Responding, a visibly elated Oyebanji who said he accepted the endorsement with utmost sense of humility, said he was touched by the gesture of the leaders and members of the APC in Ekiti Central Senatorial District but added that any other party member is free to vie for the governorship ticket at the forthcoming primary election.

He said: “I am moved, very touched by this endorsement and I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart. When you gave me the ticket, I told you that I will always hear your voices. In the last two years, I have served you with humility and commitment. Myself and the Deputy Governor accept this with all humility. But this doesn’t preclude anyone who has governorship ambition on the platform of APC from showing interest. APC is a party that respects the right of every member to contest for any position of his choice. We are not afraid of competition.

The unanimous backing of Oyebanji’s candidacy for another term in office by the party structure in Ekiti Central represents a strong statement of unity from his home base and signifies a unity of purpose to keep a purposeful leadership in power for sustainable development of the state.

Ogunmola is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (Print Media).