Oyebanji seeks re-election, urges Ekiti voters to sustain good governance

Governor Biodun Oyebanji has appealed to residents of Ekiti State to re-elect him in the June 20 governorship election, saying continuity in governance is necessary to sustain development and prevent what he described as politics of retrogression.

Oyebanji, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the election, made the appeal on Thursday during campaign rallies held in Ekiti East and Ayekire Local Government Areas.

The governor also urged residents to support President Bola Tinubu in the January 2027 presidential election, citing what he described as the President’s strong support for Ekiti State.

According to him, no Nigerian leader had supported the state as much as Tinubu, adding that Ekiti people should reciprocate through massive votes for the APC in the forthcoming elections.

Oyebanji argued that frequent changes in government had slowed the pace of development in the state, noting that successive administrations often abandoned policies introduced by their predecessors.

“In less than a year, Ekiti State will clock 30 years since it was created and no government has won election back-to-back,” he said.

“The problem of Ekiti State development has been lack of continuity in good governance, so June 20 offers us a platform to change that narrative once and for all.”

The rallies in Omuo Ekiti and Ode Ekiti attracted large crowds of APC supporters, traditional rulers, artisans, teachers, market women and youth groups.

Residents of the two communities commended the governor for restoring electricity to several communities in the area after more than a decade of blackout.

Speaking through community representatives, residents said the return of power supply had improved economic activities and living conditions in the affected communities.

Oyebanji also highlighted some of his administration’s achievements in the area, including infrastructure projects and youth empowerment programmes.

He assured residents that his government would consolidate on the gains already recorded if re-elected.

The governor further stressed the need for a peaceful and violence-free election, urging APC supporters not to engage in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process.

He said a strong performance by the APC in the Ekiti governorship election would boost the party’s momentum ahead of the Osun governorship election and the 2027 presidential poll.

Among party leaders who attended the rallies were former Senator Biodun Olujimi and House of Representatives member Femi Bamisile, both of whom canvassed support for the governor’s re-election.

A youth leader, Mayowa Ogundana, also praised the administration for reconnecting communities to the national grid and creating agricultural opportunities for young people through the government’s youth empowerment initiatives.

Oyebanji later met with traditional rulers in the two local government areas, where he sought their continued support for his administration and re-election bid.