Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, on Monday, emerged as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2026 governorship election following a consensus endorsement by party delegates.
Oyebanji was unanimously adopted at a special congress held at the Ekiti State Pavilion, New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, where 885 delegates from the 177 wards across the 16 local government areas gave their approval through a popular voice vote.
The affirmation exercise was supervised by a seven-member committee led by Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo. The motion for Oyebanji’s adoption was moved by the Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, and seconded by the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Oyebanji described the event as a historic moment and a testament to the unity and maturity of the party in the state. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his “fatherly role” in making the consensus possible and pledged to continue delivering on his mandate to the people.
“History is being made today. We promise to keep delivering on our contract to the Ekiti people. I promise to make you proud,” Oyebanji said. “There is no victor or vanquished in this race. We are all winners because we can disagree to agree for the common good of our party.”
The governor extended a hand of fellowship to his major challenger, Engineer Kayode Ojo, urging him and other party members to unite for total victory in the forthcoming governorship and presidential elections.
He appealed for party cohesion, warning against “negative preaching, abusive comments, character assassination, and divisive behaviours,” and stressing that unity remained crucial for the APC to maintain its winning streak.
Oyebanji also reflected on the party’s past internal crises, saying the consensus decision represented “a new phase of political maturity and stability” for the Ekiti progressives.
Earlier, Governor Ododo said the decision to adopt Oyebanji as the consensus candidate was a reflection of the APC’s internal democratic process. “The choice of Oyebanji is not a product of imposition but a collective resolve to sustain the good governance currently witnessed in Ekiti,” Ododo stated.
Although four aspirants had earlier obtained the party’s nomination forms, only Oyebanji faced the delegates at the affirmation congress. Other aspirants included Abimbola Olawumi, who was disqualified, and Oluremi Omolayo, who withdrew in support of the governor.
With his emergence, Governor Oyebanji is set to lead the APC’s campaign for re-election in 2026, as the party seeks to consolidate its grip on Ekiti’s political landscape.
