Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The All Progressives Congress has activated its final campaign machinery for the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, unveiling a national campaign council steered by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and a constellation of the party’s most influential figures. The council, which will be formally inaugurated on Wednesday at the Kashim Shettima Hall of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, is tasked with securing a decisive victory for the party’s candidate, the incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who is seeking a second term.
The ruling party revealed the composition of the high‑powered council in a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka. Governor Uba Sani, who was appointed to the role on April 24, will chair the council, while the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, will serve as co‑chairman. The Secretary of the council is the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, who hails from Ekiti State. The council includes serving and former governors, principal officers of the National Assembly, and other senior party leaders.
The party has also formed a range of subcommittees to manage different facets of the campaign. These cover election planning, finance, grassroots mobilisation, logistics, protocol, media, security, women’s and youth mobilisation, and secretariat functions.
Morka underscored the high‑stakes nature of the contest, describing the inauguration as a crucial step to kickstart mobilisation and position the APC for a “victorious outing”.
The Ekiti election has drawn intense national focus, as the APC seeks to retain the state it won in 2022. Governor Oyebanji, who became the party’s candidate via a consensus arrangement in October 2025, is running on a platform of continuity, highlighting achievements in infrastructure, education, and youth empowerment. His campaign has recently received a major boost from Muslim leaders across the state, who have pledged to deliver 150,000 votes in appreciation of what they termed his “inclusive style of governance” and dedication to religious harmony.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party has put forward Dr. Wole Oluyede, a medical doctor and businessman, as its candidate for the June 20 poll. Oluyede has consistently expressed confidence in his ability to unseat the incumbent, maintaining that his performance‑driven message and his call for a shift of power to the southern senatorial district will resonate with voters. However, the PDP’s campaign has been overshadowed by internal discord. A former governor of the state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has openly endorsed Governor Oyebanji, declaring that the opposition candidates cannot match the governor’s performance and widespread acceptance. Fayose has predicted a landslide victory for the APC, stating that the runner‑up will not score up to 40,000 votes.
The election will also feature candidates from other parties, such as the Social Democratic Party, which has fielded Chief David Bankole, and the Allied Peoples Movement, whose candidate, Chief Joseph Anifowose, stepped down in May to support the APC. Despite internal challenges, the APC is banking on its formidable campaign structure and the incumbent’s record to secure a straightforward victory. Governor Oyebanji himself is urging voters to use their ballots to “cement continuity of good governance and defeat politics of retrogression”.
With the campaign council now fully unveiled and the clock ticking down to the June 20 poll, the race for Ekiti has entered its final, decisive phase. The ruling party has assembled its heavyweights to ensure a strong showing, while the opposition struggles to find a unified voice. As the state’s electorate prepares to decide, the question is whether Governor Oyebanji’s performance and the APC’s organisational muscle will prove unstoppable or if Dr. Oluyede and the PDP can defy the odds and spring an upset.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments