As the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election draws closer, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has called for political continuity, saying the state deserves sustained progress similar to what Lagos has enjoyed over the years.
Bamidele made the remark in Ado Ekiti on Friday evening during a “Thank You Visit” to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Executive Committee. He said his visit was to participate as a delegate in the party’s governorship primary scheduled for Monday.
The APC will on Saturday, October 25, hold its Delegates’ Congress to select representatives who will affirm Governor Biodun Oyebanji as the party’s candidate for the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
Following the withdrawal of Mrs. Atinuke Olayemi Omolayo and the earlier disqualification of two other aspirants, Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olawumi, Oyebanji remains the sole contender and APC’s consensus candidate.
Bamidele expressed confidence that the primary would be peaceful, emphasizing that the APC in Ekiti was “looking forward to a governorship primary devoid of rancour, where no one will be molested or lose their life, and where there will be no spilling of blood.”
He added:
“Anyone familiar with Lagos politics since 1999 will understand the beauty and progress that come with continuity – the harvest of development, economic growth, and infrastructure advancement that follow a stable leadership trajectory.”
The Senate Leader described Governor Oyebanji’s performance as impressive, especially considering the state’s limited financial resources.
“This is not Rivers or Akwa Ibom State; this is Ekiti – a state with limited resources. Yet, go around and see the level of development under this administration. Unless we are looking for a magician, the record speaks for itself,” he said.
Bamidele, however, stressed the need for reconciliation among all factions of the party to maintain unity ahead of the election.
“For as long as there is one person who can be mobilised to protest over something they know nothing about, it shows we still have work to do. We will continue to reach out and promote reconciliation among all forces,” he noted.
He further explained that his participation in the delegates’ congress was necessary to qualify as a delegate for the primaries, which would formally affirm Oyebanji as the APC candidate.
“Our party prescribed three modes of primaries – direct, indirect, or consensus. With one aspirant stepping down for the other, the only option left was consensus. But our constitution still requires affirmation, which is what we’ll be doing on Monday,” he said.
Bamidele concluded by commending Governor Oyebanji for steering the state steadily despite economic challenges, saying continuity remains the path to greater stability and prosperity in Ekiti.
