Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has urged the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support his re-election bid in the 2026 Governorship election, pledging to end the State’s history of interrupted leadership cycles.
Governor Oyebanji, who submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms with a flamboyant ceremony at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, said his ambition was not just about continuity of governance but about freeing Ekiti from what he described as a “reproach” that had stunted its growth.
“Since the creation of Ekiti State, no governor has completed two terms in one stretch.
“They go, they come back, and this has retarded our development as a people.
“We see it as a jinx that must be broken. We want to build on current gains and not allow them to be reversed. By God’s grace, I have a divine mandate to break that jinx”, he noted.
The governor, who praised President Bola Tinubu for supporting State Governments through fiscal reforms, also assured party leaders of his loyalty.
“We will subject ourselves to the primaries, we will play by the rules, and we have no fear.
“But APC must also not present a weak candidate ahead of 2027. The 2026 governorship election in Ekiti is a stepping stone to the general election.”
Oyebanji also dismissed talk of division in the APC.
He said, “The beauty of democracy is freedom of expression, but the massive show of support here today does not reflect a divided party. Ekiti APC remains united and indivisible.”
Governor Oyebanji told journalists that his Administration had completed about 80% of inherited projects and invested in infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
“Trust in leadership is critical, and I want to be remembered as a governor who kept his promises,” he said.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji has assured the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of his absolute confidence in their ability to deliver a free and fair primary election ahead of the 2026 governorship race in Ekiti State.
He, however, stressed the need for party discipline while pledging to play by the rules.
“We have absolute confidence in the ability of the national leadership to conduct a free and fair primary.
“We also recognise the rights of anybody, a loyal party member who is qualified to contest. I said so, loyal party member”, Governor Oyebanji said.
Highlighting APC’s dominance in Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji pointed to the rare unity among past and present political leaders in the State.
“As I speak today, to the glory of God and our leaders here, APC is almost a one-party State.
“I don’t know of any other state in this country where all former governors and deputy governors are united in supporting the president. So, there is no problem in Ekiti State,” he noted.
Since its creation in 1996, Ekiti State has never had a governor serve eight consecutive years.
Niyi Adebayo, the State’s first civilian governor, lost his second-term bid in 2003. Ayodele Fayose, first elected in 2003, was impeached in 2006, though he later returned in 2014 to serve one fresh term.
Segun Oni, who succeeded in 2007, was removed by a court ruling in 2010.
Kayode Fayemi served between 2010 and 2014 but lost re-election to Fayose, only to return in 2018 for another single term.
Governor Oyabanji stated that this pattern of interrupted tenures had denied Ekiti the policy stability and continuity needed for long-term development.
Governor Oyebanji now hopes to become the first to secure an unbroken eight years in power.
APC leaders, including Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, members of the National Assembly from Ekiti, all 26 members of the State House of Assembly, and Local Government chairmen, accompanied the governor to Abuja.
“Our governor has delivered on infrastructure, human capital development, and stability,” Bamidele said.
“This is the first time we are seeing such a broad consensus. Stakeholders across party lines are on the same page.”
“We are the delegates; the entire House of Assembly members and local government leaders.
“The facts speak for themselves,” one Ekiti APC chieftain said.
“If we are unable to convince the other aspirants before the primary, then we will sit as brothers after.”
Former governor Niyi Adebayo, who led the state between 1999 and 2003, recalled Oyebanji’s loyalty during his own political travails.
“BAO is like my blood. He stood by me when I lost my second-term bid.
“While I support the rights of others to run, allow me the opportunity to give my full support to BAO,” Adebayo declared.
The APC governorship primary in Ekiti is scheduled for October 27, 2025, with Governor Oyebanji widely regarded as the frontrunner.
Other aspirants who have purchased nomination forms include Kayode Ojo, an educationist, and Abimbola Olawunmi.
In his comment, Isaac Kekemeke, the Vice-Chairman, South West of APC, praised the show of solidarity that accompanied Governor Oyebanji’s form submission.
“We have seen you and we have heard you,” Kekemeke said.
“We have never witnessed a submission of form like this before. Ekiti is not new to me; I know the leadership.
“Go and do in Ekiti State what you have done here today for the 25th and 27th.
“We are umpires, we will do what you say. This is the groundwork for what we need to do by June of next year. We must demonstrate by next year that Ekiti is one.”
