The former Governor of Ekiti State, Engr Segun Oni, Tuesday, described the unanimity in the emergence of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji as the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state as an act of “exemplary exhibition of trust, confidence, and acceptability by the party members”.
Chief Oni stated this in Abuja in a chat with newsmen. He said the governor had brought amicable relationships among all the political actors and stakeholders, and earned the confidence of the people of the state.
The former governor encouraged the APC faithful in the state to rally all party members and eligible voters in the state to work together to deliver a resounding victory for Gov Oyebanji during the guber election.
He stated that, “I have no doubt in my mind that Gov Oyebanji’s sterling scorecard has assured his victory in the forthcoming polls. His democratic dividends are pro-people. He does not consider party leanings in running his administration. His developmental strides are innovative. His second term is guaranteed because a winning team is not changed in the middle of the game.
“I urge the people of the state to prove that they like good governance by casting their votes for Gov Oyebanji and indeed our great party, the APC.”
Former Gov Oni charged Gov Oyebanji to sustain his grass-roots-oriented governance across the state in his second term.
Quoting him, “Oyebanji has stabilized Ekiti in all ramifications. I appeal to him to sustain the tempo by addressing some areas that need urgent attention in his second term in office. It is because of this aggregated belief and trust that he was chosen by the APC as the consensus candidate. He would also emerge as the consensus candidate of the good people of Ekiti State during the polls. I advise our people to vote wisely.”
He further appealed to all party members and the good people of Ekiti State to continue to give their support to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu in his bid to transform the country. Engr Oni described President Tinubu as “a visionary and bold leader whose administrative savvy is gradually returning Nigeria’s economy to stability”.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Oyebanji was Monday ratified as the consensus candidate of APC for the June 20, 2026, governorship election in the state.
He was ratified in Ado-Ekiti during a special nomination exercise presided over by the chairman of the primary election committee and governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Usman Ododo.
The motion for his ratification was moved by the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, in line with section 84 (11) of the Electoral Act and was seconded by the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye.
Governor Oyebanji had in his acceptance speech lauded President Tinubu for his efforts and commitment to ensuring unity in the APC and Nigeria at large.
He pledged not to disappoint the president and the party leadership, including the delegates by focusing on the party’s manifesto and philosophy in running the state if reelected, assuring that he would continue to deliver APC’s shared prosperity agenda for the state across all sectors of the economy.
According to him, since the return to the democratic system in 1999, his emergence as the consensus candidate was the first by any ruling party in the state.
He extended hand of fellowship to his co-aspirants, including Kayode Ojo and other aggrieved members of the APC, and promised to close ranks with all stakeholders towards delivering victory in the June 20, 2026, election and for President Tinubu in 2027.
