885 delegates affirm governor’s candidature as Omolayo steps down
Kogi Gov Ododo chairs affirmation panel, says process reflects party unity, continuity
By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti
Incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on Monday officially emerged as the All Progressives Congress, (APC) candidate for next year’s gubernatorial election.
He emerged, through a popular voice votes, echoed by a total of 885 delegates, who were elected on Saturday across the 177 electoral wards in the 16 Local Government areas of the state.
His adoption took place at the Ekiti State Pavilion, located along the new Iyin road, Ado-Ekiti, via a popular consensus.
His emergence followed the withdrawal of Mrs. Atinuke Omolayo and disqualification of Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olajumoke who failed to meet the party’s requirements, which paved way for Oyebanji’s affirmation as the APC consensus candidate.
Omolayo, who officially stepped down during the governorship primary at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti, said her decision was based on the Governor Oyebanji sterling performance and the need to sustain his administration’s developmental strides.
She said she had collapsed her political structure across the 16 local government areas in support of Oyebanji’s re-election bid, describing her withdrawal as an act of loyalty to the party and commitment to Ekiti’s progress.
“Governor Oyebanji has performed excellently well. His achievements in infrastructure, governance and inclusiveness speak volumes.
“He deserves a second term, and that is why I am stepping down to support him fully,” she said.
Following her withdrawal, Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, moved the motion for Oyebanji’s nomination and adoption, as consensus candidate, while incumbent Speaker of Ekiti Assembly , Adeoye Aribasoye, seconded
With the development, he thus became the first governor under the banner of APC in the state, to win the party’s candidature, back to back since the inception of the current democratic dispensation.
Speaking earlier in an opening address, Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State, who doubles as Chairman of Affirmation Congress Committee, said the decision by the party to arrive at a concensus arrangement was basically an in-house party’s choice of way, and a collective efforts, thay was devoid of any form of colouration.
” I can inform this gathering that the decision by our great party to adopt Oyebanji is not a product of imposition, but a way to allow the good works that the APC government in Ekiti has been doing, and so far recorded, to continue”, he said.
The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, had much earlier on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, inaugurated a 11-man Consensus Committee for the party’s primary election in the state.
He had informed that the committee, chaired by Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, and deputised by his Edo counterpart, Monday Okpebholo would conduct the affirmation of Oyebanji, as the sole candidate of the party for 2026 gubernatorial poll.
Speaking at the party’s secretariat in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, Nentawe said the affirmation, would be done by the 885 delegates, across the 16 local government areas of the State .
Yilwatda, represented by Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, hailed the outcome of the delegates’ poll, earlier conducted on Saturday, and also commended the leadership style of Oyebanji, which he said had endeererd the people to him.
He also asked the delegates to embrace peace ahead and after the consensus election.
In his acceptance speech, Oyebanji thanked President Bola Tinubu and other top brass of the party, especially the Senate Leader and Ekiti national assembly caucus, current Ekiti Speaker, former governors Niyi Adebayo and wife, as well as Kayode Fayemi, including every members of the party.
“I hereby accept this honour to fly the flag of our great party in the next year’s gubernatorial election, coming up in the state, and I will never take this honour for granted.
” This is too historic, in the sense that this is the first time any ruling party would be doing this for any of it’s governor in power.
” Be rest assured that this gesture will not go unappreciated and to my opponents in the race, be assured that there is no victor nor vanquished. We are in the race together, and the party belongs to all of us.
“Please, let’s come together to lift Ekiti, as I am ever ready to embrace everyone, without segregation. I plead that all forms of character assassination, cyber bullying, abuses on social media should stop”, he said