It’s just a few days to the June 20, 2026 governorship election. Why do you think Ekiti people should renew Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s mandate for another four years?
We’re looking at certain indices. Let me start with the politics of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s brand, which is more or less becoming a brand in Ekiti politics, vis-à-vis his policy of keeping Ekiti working together for all and not leaving anyone behind. That’s his politics. That is why you can see the likes of former Governor Ayodele Fayose and former Governor Segun Oni supporting the governor’s second-term bid.
Another key index is performance. When the governor was the APC candidate in 2022, prior to the governorship election, he campaigned on the mantra of shared prosperity, which cascaded into six strategic pillars focusing on human capital development, infrastructure development, youth empowerment and job creation, agriculture and rural development, governance, arts, culture and tourism, as well as industrialisation.
Looking at these six strategic pillars through the Ekiti Dashboard, which can be accessed by everyone at www.spms.ek.ng, one can see all the projects embarked upon by this administration, including those inherited from previous administrations. Virtually all the projects inherited from the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi have been completed, including the Ekiti Cargo Airport, the Ring Road, the Omuo-Itapa-Ijelu Road and the Ikole-Ara-Isinbode Road. These were projects awarded during Fayemi’s administration.
There are also projects initiated by Governor Oyebanji’s administration, such as the Ikere-Igbara Odo Road, Ikere-Ilawe Road, Igbara Odo-Ikogosi Road and the Okeyinmi-Ijigbo Flyover, now named the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Flyover. There are also several ongoing projects commenced by this administration.
So, based on performance and the six strategic pillars, Governor Oyebanji has performed creditably, and Ekiti people should return him to Oke Ayoba on June 20.
The APC is campaigning on the achievements of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration, yet many Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship. How do you reconcile the government’s performance narrative with the realities facing many households in Ekiti?
Ekiti is not in isolation. Ekiti is part of Nigeria, and Nigeria is part of the global economy. When you talk about hardship, some of us have relatives abroad who also share their experiences. If you look at the cost of fuel, for example, it directly affects the cost of food and other goods.
Before the Israel-Iran conflict, food prices in Ekiti were relatively low, among the lowest in the South-West. Even now, compared to many places, it is still relatively cheaper to buy food items in Ekiti. I travel to Lagos frequently, and I can tell you that many food items remain more affordable here. Of course, when it comes to beverages and certain manufactured products, those are not produced in Ekiti. So, the hardship is not peculiar to Ekiti. It is largely a consequence of global economic realities.
By and large, however, Governor Oyebanji has demonstrated a strong commitment to workers’ welfare. Ekiti’s minimum wage is one of the best in the South-West, after Lagos. Pensioners are also benefiting from the increment. Not only that, leave bonuses are being paid, and the backlog is being cleared. One of my staff members, who is a civil servant, told me this is the first governor who consistently remits all cooperative deductions as and when due.
Many civil servants belong to multiple cooperative societies. In the past, deductions were made but were not always remitted promptly. Governor Oyebanji has changed that. I remember him saying that his mother once relied on a cooperative loan to pay his WAEC examination fees, so he understands the importance of cooperative societies.
That is one of the reasons civil servants are celebrating him. Unlike in previous administrations, where workers protested, carried placards or even embarked on strikes close to election periods, workers now openly appreciate his leadership. Prior to this year’s May Day celebration, they organised solidarity activities in his support. So, while we are not denying that hardship exists, it is not unique to Ekiti, and the governor has made deliberate efforts to cushion its effects.
Ekiti has a history of denying incumbent governors a seamless path to a second term. Do you think Governor Oyebanji is positioned to break the longstanding succession jinx?
Of course. The coast is clear. The poll coming up in a few days is going to be a walkover for Governor Oyebanji. Before joining the government, I was a political analyst. I appeared on national television and wrote columns for a national newspaper. There are certain indices we examine. The APC structure in Ekiti remains intact. There is no implosion within the party. The family is united, and the people of Ekiti love Governor Oyebanji.
The Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, which I supervise, has conducted three statewide assessments during the life of this administration. The first was in 2024, to assess performance under the six strategic pillars and identify areas for improvement. We presented the findings to the governor, who directed us to also present them to the State Executive Council, the highest decision-making body of government. We did so, and valuable feedback was received.
In 2026, we conducted two additional surveys to gauge public perception ahead of the election. In the most recent exercise, we ensured that respondents possessed Permanent Voter Cards.
We asked them simple questions: Who will you vote for? What is your assessment of the governor?
What we found was that Governor Oyebanji is the overwhelming choice of the people. In fact, our findings showed that BAO has become a brand that, in some places, is even more popular than the APC itself. We often had to remind Ekiti people that BAO is the APC candidate and that the symbol they would see on the ballot paper is the broom.
The survey covered all 16 council areas using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The average approval rating recorded was 81.8 per cent across the state. Every local government recorded positive ratings for Governor Oyebanji’s candidacy. I believe that support has only grown stronger since then. More aggressive grassroots mobilisation is now taking place at the polling-unit level.
I was in my polling unit on Sunday engaging with voters, and I posted it on Facebook. The same thing is happening across the state. Political appointees and party leaders are returning to their various polling units.
Ekiti has 2,445 polling units and 177 wards, and the APC campaign strategy is built around unit-based mobilisation. Every polling unit has canvassers who are going from house to house encouraging people to vote. Our objective is not merely to win but to make a statement. The target is 500,000 votes for Governor Oyebanji. That is why mobilisation remains intense. We cannot afford to relax. The mega rally is coming up on Tuesday. The Vice President, who recently commissioned the flyover, performed the groundbreaking for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone and commissioned the EFCC zonal office, will also be in Ekiti again to represent President Bola Tinubu at the rally.
There is massive preparation ongoing to ensure that the APC not only wins but wins convincingly.
Do you think the 500,000 votes target is achievable?
Yes, it is achievable. We can even surpass it. As a researcher, I studied leadership and followership. Research shows that voter turnout in the United States averages around 57 per cent, while South Korea records about 67 per cent. Australia records up to 75 per cent because voting is tied to certain civic obligations and benefits. Nigeria has not reached that stage yet. I hope we do someday so that people will not spend election day playing football instead of voting.
We have 1,059,360 registered voters in Ekiti. Therefore, a target of 500,000 votes represents less than half of the registered voter population.
With the aggressive mobilisation taking place at the polling-unit level, I believe the target is realistic and can even be exceeded.
Many analysts argue that the APC’s biggest challenge may not come from the opposition parties but from unresolved grievances arising from the recent National Assembly and State Assembly primaries. What steps is your party taking to prevent this from affecting its chances in the poll?
In every political contest, there will always be aggrieved parties. That is normal, whether at the local, state or federal level. The APC is already moving swiftly to address concerns arising from the primaries through appropriate reconciliation mechanisms. As things stand, I can confidently say there is no crack within the APC. Some people may be dissatisfied, and that is expected.
Politics is like football. Some supporters may believe a penalty should have been awarded or that the referee made a wrong decision. But once the match is over, everyone moves on. Within the party, there are established mechanisms for resolving grievances, and those mechanisms are already at work.
All of us are united in our determination to secure victory for Governor Oyebanji on June 20. We have continued to hold meetings and consultations, and nobody is being left behind. Those of us who supported different aspirants during the primaries have now come together. As I mentioned earlier, I was in my polling unit on Sunday, and everyone was working together towards securing another mandate for Governor Oyebanji.
From your interaction with Ekiti people, what is the prevailing mood of the electorate ahead of the poll?
The prevailing mood is the chant of ‘BAO’.Everywhere you go, people are talking about BAO, and when they say BAO, they are referring to the APC candidate. The APC is not resting on its oars. We are active on social media, in the traditional media, on television, radio and in newspapers. Across the 16 local government areas, most of the billboards you see are those of Governor Oyebanji.
This reflects the readiness and enthusiasm of the people. If you visit bars, hotels, restaurants and other social gathering points, discussions often centre on Governor Oyebanji. Ekiti is not a one-party state, but what we have are opponents, not a formidable opposition.
There are several candidates contesting the election, but Governor Oyebanji remains the leading contender.
The key political figures in Ekiti have aligned with this administration. All former governors are supporting Governor Oyebanji’s re-election bid.
Former Governor Ayodele Fayose, despite remaining in the PDP, has been one of the most vocal supporters of BAO. Former Governor Segun Oni is now in the APC. Senator Biodun Olujimi is in the APC. Senator Ayo Arise is also in the APC. All of them are working towards the governor’s re-election. That is why we are witnessing such a broad base of support for the APC candidate.
Are you saying the governorship poll is a one-horse race?
Definitely, it is a one-horse race. That does not mean it is a one-party affair. We still have parties like the PDP, ADC, SDP and Accord participating. However, when you talk about political street value in Ekiti today, it is Governor Oyebanji.
Across all 16 local government areas, the APC remains dominant. I believe this will become evident by the end of Election Day. Ekiti elections are relatively straightforward because we do not have difficult riverine terrains. Voting and collation are usually completed promptly.
I do not expect this election to be one where people wait until 10 p.m. for results. By about 8 p.m., local government results should already be known, even if INEC has not made a formal declaration. The APC will not only emerge victorious but will do so with a substantial margin.
Lastly, what is your message to Ekiti people as they file out next Saturday to elect their next governor?
My message to Ekiti people is simple: please come out and vote. Election day is not the day to remain at home or go to the farm without voting. Cast your vote first, then go about your other activities.
Young people who are 18 years and above and have collected their PVCs should accompany their parents and friends to the polling units. Make sure you vote and ensure that your vote counts. Even if you cannot stay until the end of the counting process, there will be elders and party agents around. But make sure you exercise your civic responsibility.
For those who registered in Ekiti but currently reside in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Ilorin, Akure, Osogbo or elsewhere, I encourage you to return home before the election. Whether on Thursday or Friday, make arrangements to come back and vote. Let us all ensure that our votes count. Nobody should assume that because Governor Oyebanji is expected to win, their vote is no longer important.
My appeal goes to farmers, market men and women, artisans, professionals, civil servants, public servants, local government workers and teachers: please come out peacefully and participate in the democratic process. Your vote matters.