“We are not here to play. In 2022, we started in Ikole, and we won. Today, we start again in Ikole, and victory shall be ours, once more.
“Great nations are built on continuity. The BAO Solution is working. On June 20, 2026, we have a date with history.”
With these words, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji flagged off his campaign at Ikole-Ekiti on a promising note with massive supporters on the trail, assuring that his leadership mission in Ekiti State, which started in Ikole in 2022 and has so far yielded bountiful goodies to the people, will continue as an essential element of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the APC-led government in Nigeria.
In the campaign stops that that ended in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Oyebanji left no one in doubt that he, indeed, is a man of the people as massive crowds surged and surged everywhere he went, to give account of his first term in a political marketing that saw the governor coursing through Ekiti State’s rugged terrains of the state featuring steep-sided dome rocks and expansive plateaus with pockets of flat land amid the rolling hills largely classified as part of the Nigerian lowland forests in the south and the Guinean forest–savanna mosaic to the north.
With top leaders of his party on the trail, Oyebanji led a campaign party crusading with his six-point agenda, including the need for peace and tolerance, to ensure an interrupted delivery of dividends of good governance in a jinx-breaking poll to sustain the current development efforts in Ekiti State.
As he explained his development agenda everywhere he visited, no one was left in a doubt that his mission was firmly rooted in the national vision of his party, the All Progressives Congress, as represented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He charged his supporters and residents to see the June 20 gubernatorial poll as a litmus test for the 2027 general elections, asking them to return to their units to canvass for votes.
On hand to receive the Governor in Ikole-Ekiti where the campaign kicked off were mammoth crowds of supporters led by former Deputy Governor Paul Alabi and Prince Oladele Adeniyi who pledged Ikole votes as a reward for the governor’s hard work and promise of better performance in second term.
At Oye-Ekiti where Oyebanji also explained his mission, Mrs Kemisola Olaleye promised massive votes, even as she praised the governor’s sterling performance at a rally where APC State Chairman, Barrister Sola Elesin, urged supporters to return to their units and wards to mobilise for the June 20 election. “Unit meetings must continue until total victory is assured. Continuity of good governance is at stake,” Elesin charged.
Oyebanji’s message of peace reverberated in Emure where he underscored peace as the magic behind the successes of his administration facilitated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through his numerous interventions in Ekiti State and urged residents to continue in that spirit for more development.
“My ambition is not worth the blood of any Ekiti indigene,” Oyebanji charged, even as he pleaded that political interest should not divide Ekiti communities to threaten peace and security.
In Gbonyin/Aiyekire, excited crowds of supporters rolled out the drums, celebrating Oyebanji’s development milestones and vowing support for the governor’s second term ambition.
In Ode-Ekiti, capital of Aiyekire/Gbonyin Local government, residents praised Oyebanji for delivering good services to the people.
Aiyekie/Gbonyin leader, Abimbola Awe Femtex, who is also a commissioner, spoke on behalf of other leaders, assuring that they would deliver massive votes for the governor’s re-election while the Youths Leader, Mayowa Ogundana, explained that youths would support Oyebanji for benefitting from the governor’s ‘Bring Back Our Youths to Agriculture’ initiative and restoration of electricity to the local government.
Olalekan Ijidale, another leader and aspirant for the House of Assembly seat, said Oyebanji’s exemplary leadership had ignited a strong passion among Ekiti people who are ready for the continuity of current efforts for rapid development.
Oyebanji, who acknowledged Gbonyin as the bastion of progressives politics, praised residents for their support, declaring, however, that commendation should be given to President Tinubu for his various interventions and urged the people to ensure total victory on June 20.
It was a pledge galore in Ekiti East, as Olomuooke of Omuooke-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Otitoju; Senator Biodun Olujimi and Rt Hon Femi Bamisile, praised Oyebanji for his vision and hardwork that hallmarked his administration and pledged support for Oyebanji’s victory at polls.
The monarch, who praised Oyebanji and Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye as “agents of peace” explained that Ekiti East had never recorded any community strife since they assumed office.
His words: “Since the inception of this government, I have not heard of any violence. This is because the governor and his deputy are man and woman of peace. We are solidly behind you. For the people’s welfare, you have done extremely well.”
Olujimi and Bamisile assured that they would deliver massive votes for the governor’s re-election.
Oyebanji thanked the residents whose support created opportunity for him to deliver on campaign promises even as he urged more support in the June 20 guber poll and presidential election of President Tinubu in 2027.
“When we came here in 2022, we promised to restore the electricity that had not worked for more than ten years, and today, we have fulfilled that promise. Kabiyesi has also informed us of other areas where electricity should be extended to, and we will get it done.
“About three and a half years ago, we came here to seek your votes and you did not fail us. Since the creation of Ekiti State, there has been no President that has been as fair, supportive and good to us as President Tinubu.
“That is why we must let the whole world know, through the June 20 election, that the President has done well. We must show it with our votes.”
Emotions ran high in Ilejemeje Local Government where Oyebanji commiserated with the residents over recent abductions of worshippers in a church that led to the death of a pastor. He also conveyed the President’s directive to rescue the victims unhurt.
His words: “I share in your pains and concerns. I have conveyed your situation, and the President has given a clear directive that all those kidnapped must be returned unharmed. We are confident that this will be achieved.”
Even as the community mourned the loss and agonised over the missing of their loved ones, the governor’s supporters in large numbers attended the rally where leaders, including Olabode Folorunso and Hon Cecilia Dada, spoke in turns, assuring the governor of success at polls, even as they vowed support for the governor in the running of the state.
In Ikere-Ekiti home town of Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, Oyebanji, who showered encomiums on the deputy deputy for being a partner in progress, declared that his re-election would usher in more purposeful leadership, stressing that his second term in office portended more
progress, prosperity, security, peace, employment and good governance across the state. He declared that his victory at the poll will put an end to the succession jinx that had held the state down over the years over inconsistent policies by the succeeding administrations.
Urging residents to reward President Bola Tinubu with their votes for his tremendous achievements in the state, he said: “On June 20, all of us will have a date with history. June 20 is extremely important to us in Ekiti State for so many reasons. The first reason is that it will be the day we will finally break the jinx of continuity. Secondly, it’s the day that Ekiti people will use their votes to say thank you to President Bola Tinubu for what he has done for us because since the creation of Ekiti State 29 years ago, no President has been fair to Ekiti State like President Tinubu. You have to go out en masse and vote for his party. As you vote for APC, you vote for continuous progress, prosperity, security, peace, employment and good governance.”
He added: “The target that we have set for ourselves as a party is 177-0 in all the 177 wards. I have no doubt in the leaders in Ikere and I assure you that when we come back by God’s grace, we will double that. Let us be at peace with one another. Our ambition isn’t worth the blood of any Ekiti man.”
At Ekiti West, homeboy Oyebanji was welcomed by a mammoth crowds of party leaders, supporters and residents, who came to lend support for one of their own.
Amidst drumming and dancing that accompanied solidarity songs in front of his people, Oyebanji proudly flaunted his achievements, including fresh initiative to rebuild the busy but decrepit Aramoko-Itawure road made possible by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
His words: “Heavy construction work is currently ongoing on Aramoko – Erio – Itawure road. The value of the construction work is put at N156b. Meanwhile, in the year 2022 when I assumed office, the entire Ekiti budget was N146b. That means the cost of the construction of that road is more than Ekiti budget for the year 2022. Only a President who truly loves us in Ekiti State would embark on such. For this and more, we owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and we will repay him handsomely in 2027.”
At Igede-Ekiti, the candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Chief Joseph Anifowose, stepped down for the governor, citing the need to sustain the pace of growth and development by Oyebanji’s administration, which he described as a turning point in Ekiti’s governance.
In Ilawe-Ekiti, Oyebanji, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; and Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, made it plain that residents had firmly shut the doors against the opposition parties that only existed in name but never on the field.
The Senators declared that APC would have a landslide victory in the June 20 governorship election and the January 2027 presidential election to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a second term to continue to assist the state in her development initiatives, which the governor listed to include Ikere-Ilawe road, Ikere-Igbara Odo road, Igbara Odo-Ikogosi road, Ilawe-Erijiyan road, and Ilawe General Hospital, while two power transmission stations at Ilupeju-Ekiti and Ijesa Isu-Ekiti were being executed by the Tinubu-led administration.
Adaramodu, who is the Deputy Director-General of the Campaign Council, said the plan to deliver total victory for Oyebanji and Tinubu was unshakable, adding: “In Ekiti South West Local Government, we have about 56,000 registered voters and if we deliver less than 50,000, we have not done well. That means we must deliver at least 50,000 for APC and BAO (Oyebanji); the winning votes here must be for BAO.”
The Chairman of Oyebanji campaign Council, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who facilitated the construction of a mini-stadium in Ilawe-Ekiti, urged voters to avoid “wasted votes,” stressing that APC-led administration had set a standard that would improve the living conditions of the people.
Oyebanji concluded the visits in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday amid a mammoth crowds that included top leaders, such as First Lady, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji; Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye; former Governor Ayodele Fayose, the Chairman of the Campaign Council, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Director General of the council, Senator Cyril Fasuyi; Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, Ekiti State Chairman of APC, Barrister Sola Elesin; member of the House of Representatives, Sola Fatoba; among others.
Fayose described Oyebanji as a performer and builder of a modern Ekiti “who deserves a second term by all standards of measurements”.
Fayose, who spoke on behalf of former governors, said they were all in support of Oyebanji’s reelection, stressing that his “brilliant and captivating performance must last till 2030 in the interest of the populace”.
Fayose added: “I want to salute our governor, the performer, the builder and the man of the moment who has brought all of us together. I celebrate you at this moment. I am here in my capacity as part of leaders of this state that are interested in the development of the people. This governor never abandons anybody and we are solidly behind him. We are with you and we will ever remain with you.”
Ojudu said it will be a shame for the party to deliver a vote less than 500,000 to retain the governor on his seat.
“The governor remains the most accessible, the most friendly, he has been the most generous to our people. In this election, the minimum we can give him is 500,000 votes. Let us thank him for the kind of change he has brought to Ekiti politics.
“I have told everybody that I have retired from politics, but he brought me out of retirement. He said I can’t retire.
“He has become our leader in Ekiti. He sees all of us as brothers, whether you are from Ado or Ikogosi, wherever you may come from. All of us, both at home and in the Diaspora, will be around to vote for him,” Ojudu said.
Overwhelmed by the support he received during the campaign tours, Oyebanji praised Ekiti people for a violence-free campaigns and praised President Tinubu for his fairness to the state in terms of appointments and projects, describing this as a novelty since the advent of democracy in 1999.
Listing a few of his achievements, Oyebanji said: “Everybody in Ado Ekiti has seen what we have done. You have seen the airport we completed, the roads we built, the ring roads we have constructed, you can seen the flyover and the hospitals we have built. All these are the projects that are speaking loudly for us.
“We have visited 15 local governments now and the support had been overwhelming and humbling. Let us work hard in this election. We have a target we must meet to appreciate President Tinubu in 2027. We must send the signal with this election.
“Our canvassers will begin mobilisation through door to door campaign from tomorrow. We are not going to rest until June 19 when we must have converted all the voters here in Ekiti to vote for APC.”
As door-to-door campaign begins tomorrow after the statewide campaigns that have proven conclusively that Ekiti people, who are united in one spirit and vision, are ready to invest in APC’s Renewed Hope Agenda. June 20 poll victory is one sure step in the attainment of Oyebanji’s shared prosperity agenda for Ekiti people.