Oyebanji Will Emerge First Ekiti Governor to Be Re-elected Back-to-Back, Says Oni

A former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, has predicted that Governor Biodun Oyebanji will emerge as the first Ekiti State governor to be re-elected back-to-back.

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He declared that Ekiti people are set to make history with the re-election of Governor Oyebanji for a second term in the June 20 governorship election, judging by the massive support he enjoys from voters, including the youth, the elderly, the elite, and grassroots communities.

Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, the former governor, who joined Oyebanji on a campaign tour of Ilejemeje, Moba, and Ido/Osi Local Government Areas of the state, said it was symbolic for all former governors in the state to support an incumbent governor seeking re-election. He added that support for Oyebanji should be total for the targeted 500,000 votes to be achieved.

Addressing party members and supporters, Governor Oyebanji expressed confidence that the achievements recorded by his administration in three and a half years would pave the way for him and his party to secure a second term in office.

At Ilejemeje, Moba, and Ido/Osi Local Government Areas, Governor Oyebanji said the electorate in Ekiti State has an opportunity to reward a performing governor with a back-to-back victory for the first time, allowing the good work across key sectors to continue for the benefit of the people.

He said:
“On June 20, we have an opportunity, once and for all, to do what has not been done in our state before. Since the creation of this state 29 years ago, no governor has achieved a back-to-back victory, but we are going to do it with your support and based on what we have done so far.

“By God’s grace, we are winning all 177 wards because 16-0 is no longer a record, as former Governor Ayodele Fayose achieved it before. Our target now is victory in all 177 wards with no fewer than 500,000 votes.

“The June 20 poll in Ekiti has implications for the 2027 presidential election. Every one of us must go out and vote for the APC. Then, in January 2027, we shall increase the figure for our president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

This came as a political support group, the BAO Grassroots Support for President Bola Tinubu, stated that the well-documented achievements of Governor Oyebanji in governance, health, education and human capital development, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, security of lives and property, empowerment of citizens, and inflow of investments into the state justify a renewal of his mandate until 2030.

The group, which hailed the people of Ekiti State for the rousing welcome accorded Governor Oyebanji in the first two days of his re-election campaign, posited that the large crowds at the local government rallies point to victory for the APC governorship candidate in the forthcoming poll.

The group expressed delight at the impressive turnout of supporters at the flag-off mega rally held in Ado-Ekiti on April 27, as well as residents who trooped out to receive the governor in Ikole, Oye, Ido/Osi, Moba, and Ilejemeje Local Government Areas on Monday and Tuesday.

Assessing the flag-off mega rally and the first two days of the campaign, the BAO Grassroots Support for President Bola Tinubu, in a statement on Wednesday by its State Coordinator, Prince Tunji Ogunlola, and Director of Publicity, Mr. Odunayo Ogunmola, said the impressive turnout was a gesture of appreciation for the impact of the Oyebanji administration.

The group expressed joy over the massive reception accorded the governor, who is the candidate of the APC in the June 20 governorship election, in which he is seeking re-election, by traditional rulers, community leaders, market leaders, artisans, women, youths, students, and eligible voters across the council areas.

The group said the widespread support and acceptance received by the APC governorship candidate at rallies so far point to an impending overwhelming victory and the realization of the minimum target of 500,000 votes in the election.

As the Oyebanji campaign train moves into more local government areas in the coming days, the group urged residents to show their support for the governor and their readiness to vote for him in the fast-approaching governorship poll.

While canvassing continued support for Oyebanji’s candidacy, the group said a convincing victory for the APC in the Ekiti governorship poll would position the state for a clean sweep of votes in favour of President Bola Tinubu in the January 2027 presidential election.

It also advocated strong participation in the Continuous Voter Registration exercise scheduled to commence on May 11 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to accommodate more eligible voters, especially those who have attained voting age and those who have changed their place of residence.

“Governor Oyebanji has touched all local government areas of the state, and there is no community in Ekiti State today where the impact of his administration is not felt. Nobody should be surprised at the massive turnout at the rallies held so far.

“The people are only showing their appreciation for a mandate that was well utilised and the governor’s faithfulness to the social contract he signed with them at his inauguration on October 16, 2022.

“We are calling on all the people of Ekiti State to vote overwhelmingly for the governor and the APC in the governorship election, with a minimum of 500,000 votes, to achieve the first-ever re-election of an incumbent governor in the state.

“A large haul of votes for the governor would signal a positive development for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, in appreciation of what Mr President has done for Ekiti and the support given to our governor to achieve these feats,” the statement added.