Oyebanji Emerges APC Governorship Candidate In Ekiti
• He was given the mandate to run on unanimous decision of 885 card-carrying members.
There was wild jubilation and excitement in Ekiti State, on Monday, as Governor Biodun Oyebanji emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the June 20, 2026 election.
Oyebanji emerged through affirmation of his candidacy, by 885 delegates, drawn from the 177 wards across the statutory 16 local government areas of the State, at the venue of the primary, held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado/Ekiti, the State Capital.
In an event involving 885 card-carrying APC delegates, the motion for affirmation was moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, pursuant to section 84, subsection 11 of the Electoral Act 2022, and was seconded by the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye.
The motion was affirmed by all the delegates with a thunderous voice vote.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Oyebanji, who was overwhelmed with joy, promised to break the second term jinx and as well upscale performance by vigorously pursuing his shared prosperity agenda that will dismantle poverty and wanton neglect from the State.
Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allowing internal democracy to grow in the party, while also commending the party for the honour of being elected as the candidate. He also expressed appreciation to the Progressive Governors Forum , led by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, for their solid support.
In an extreme show of political maturity, Oyebanji spread the olive branch to the disqualified aspirant, Engr Kayode Ojo, with open heart and readiness to work with him, saying he begrudged nobody, particularly those who have taken different positions on the governorship primary.
The Ekiti Governor urged the party members to return to their wards and work hard, warning that people shouldn’t be complacent, nor take Ekiti people for granted as the June 20, 2026 governorship election approaches.
The Governor reminded that every politics is local, which he said makes it imperative for APC members to solidly connect with the people and mobilise ahead of the impending poll.
“Silver or gold, we have none. But we promise to deliver on the contract we signed with our people. We will continue do those things that will make our people happy and project our party, APC positively in Ekiti State.
“I have been around for nearly three decades as an active participant in the politics of Ekiti State. I can say without any fear of contradictions that this is the first time in our history, that a ruling party will be presenting a candidate by consensus.
“This is a historic moment in our political development, and it signals a major metric of political maturity and a trend towards stability that our State began in 2022. The inglorious experience of the party in the past is that the progressive bloc in Ekiti had always turned a moment like this to endless schism and damaging polarization.
“The fight-to–finish, internal rancour, dissection, party factionalization and division down the line, ultimately always partly led to our defeats during second term elections. I am glad that we have broken this jinx”, he said.
Oyebanji thanked Mrs Atinuke Omolayo, for displaying magnanimity, sportsmanship and maturity, by voluntarily withdrew from the race without any pressure, branding the singular act as a manifestation of her maturity, discipline and strong belief in the APC’s internal democratic process.
“To Engr, Kayode Ojo, I extend my hands of fellowship and cooperation going forward. I earnestly look to working with both of you to ensure total victory for our party in the coming Governorship and Presidential elections.
“My appreciation also goes to former Governors, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and his wife Erelu Angela Adebayo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his wife Erelu Bisi Fayemi, former Deputy Governors – Professor Modupe Adelabu, Surveyor Abiodun Aluko, the National Assembly Caucus under the leadership of Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, the Ekiti State House of Assembly members for their support and solidarity”.
Speaking about the gains of consensus , Oyebanji, said: “Consensus that we are doing today shows a signal of our political maturity and that the party has every reason to be grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for laying a solid foundation for our democratic growth.
“The era of negative comments and divisive rhetorics is over. This is a template of unity, a template of understanding and template of political maturity. We have experienced in the past when divisions, rancour, serious acrimony and dangerous polarisation often made us lose second term within the progressive party.
“As we approach this election, let us work together and win together. I have always maintained that there is no victor, no vanquished, we have all won together. I thank you most sincerely for this honour and I promise that I will never disappoint you”, he said.
The consensus process, supervised by the governors of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, and Edo State Governor , Senator Monday Okpebholo, was described as credible and fully aligned with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Laws .
A female governorship aspirant, Mrs Atinuke Omolayo, announced her withdrawal from the race, thereby clearing the hurdles, sequel to the disqualification of two other aspirants, Engr. Kayode Ojo and Olajumoke Adeniyi, for not meeting the APC’s nomination criteria.
In her submission, Mrs Omolayo, said: “I stand here today to confirm my withdrawal from the governorship race. My action is based on the fact that the Governor has done well and deserves second term. We should give him another chance to work harder and deliver for the good people of Ekiti State. No ambition should be taken personal, it must be in the interest of the people”.
Announcing the result of the affirmation by the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, put the motion to “I” and “Nay” votes and the delegates all thundered “I”, thereby ratifying the process.
Governor Ododo, who doubles as the Chairman of the Affirmation Congress Committee, denied that the affirmation was a product of imposition, saying this action wasn’t antithetical to democratic norms.
The Kogi State Governor, applauded the party stakeholders for working hard to deliver a seamless process that could produce a candidate that can deliver for the party, saying the template laid in Ekiti will go down in history as removing the hurdle of unnecessary and fierce competition that could lead to killings and maiming within a political system.
Governor Ododo appreciated the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies for displaying highest point of professionalism in monitoring the process to set a template that will be acceptable nationwide.
“This consensus mode of electing a candidate according to the law is not a product of imposition, but a mutual understanding among stakeholders. This is not in any way an exclusion, but a call to duty.With Governor Oyebanji as our candidate, we are sure of victory in 2026.
“Our party is a party that respects the constitution and the electoral law. We didn’t jump any process. You could all see that we have fulfilled all legal and laid down procedures of our party. Consensus process is being laid here in Ekiti State as an acceptable electoral process that can help our democratic system.
“Having fulfilled all legal and procedures laid down by our party and the constitution,. Governor Biodun Oyebanji, is hereby affirmed as the consensus candidate of our party in the governorship election of June 20,2026”.
Presenting the party’s flag to Oyebanji, Governor Ododo, saluted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Prof Nentawe Yilwadta-led National Working Committee of the APC for giving them the opportunity to prosecute the national assignment.
Present at the primary are : The First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, former governor Niyi Adebayo, Ex-governor Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, members of the House of Representatives, members of the House of Assembly, APC State Chairman, Sola Elesin, Senator Ayo Arise, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, among others.
