By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

The Chairman of the committee for the state endorsement of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, Surv. Biodun Aluko, has debunked insinuations that the committee was set up by Governor Oyebanji to impose himself as governor in 2026, insisting that stakeholders are merely exercising their fundamental human rights.

Surv. Aluko made this known during the inauguration of various sub-committees set up for the endorsement programme.

Aluko emphasised that the planned state-wide endorsement is nothing more than the unification of the series of unanimous endorsements for the governor’s second term in office by critical stakeholders across the state, describing any contrary claim as mischievous and a misconception of the reality on ground.

The former Deputy Governor noted that, unprecedentedly, all former governors in the state have called and expressed their support for Governor Oyebanji’s second term bid, and wondered if it was possible for these distinguished individuals to have been bullied or bought all at once.

He stressed that any rational mind would understand that their endorsements were not engineered by fear or coercion, but are natural responses — obviously out of their free will — to a successor who has delivered beyond expectations.

He added that a succession of public endorsements immediately followed, including but not limited to those by leaders and people of each of the three senatorial districts in the state, as well as a number of groups and individuals comprising the State Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is the highest organ of the party in the state.

“They include the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), all primary school teachers in the 16 local government areas of the state, the state chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), student and youth groups, as well as communities and traditional chiefs across the state. These events were clearly organised independently by groups who are genuinely moved by the governor’s performance,” he said.

Aluko queried whether the critics claiming that the constitution of the BAO State Endorsement Committee by stakeholders is a disregard for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call for internal party democracy are aware that not only have APC governors from the North-Central geopolitical zone recently passed a vote of confidence in Tinubu’s administration, but the entire Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has formally endorsed President Bola Tinubu as the sole candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 presidential election.

He emphasised that everyone is entitled to their opinions; however, he questioned why people should be harassed for supporting a governor who has given them reasons to believe again, or for expressing their support and appreciation for a governor whose impact has been significantly felt across all sectors — including road infrastructure, healthcare investment, workers’ and pensioners’ welfare, agricultural investment, educational support, care for the elderly and vulnerable citizens, and human capital development.

The former Deputy Governor stressed that Governor Oyebanji’s endorsement by the leaders and people of the state is something that has already been done and cannot be undone, adding that the formation of the committee was to ensure proper organisation of the programme.

“If almost everybody in the state is rooting for the governor’s second term in office and perceive him to have tremendously and positively impacted the state, what can we do but help midwife the process for a seamless transition? The number of people calling and begging BAO to run for a second term are too numerous and too strong to ignore. And as the saying goes, Vox populi, vox Dei — the voice of the people is the voice of God. So, where is the problem?” he asked.

He advised the people of the state to continually support the governor and pray for God’s wisdom and strength for him to sustain the pace of rapid development and the prevailing peace in the state.

Sub-committees constituted include the Central Organising Committee/Budget, headed by Surv. Biodun Aluko; Fundraising, with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as Chairman; and Security, led by Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana.

Others are the Media Committee, chaired by Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun; Rt. Hon. Femi Bamisile, leading the Mobilisation and Entertainment Committee; Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, heading the Venue Sub-committee; and Dr. Banji Filani, supervising the Medical Committee.

The committee comprises a 24-member BAO State Endorsement Committee.