By Michael Ogungbemi
On Monday, August 4, 2025, Governor Biodun Oyebanji demonstrated that he was a real and unchangeable party man. He displayed aura suggesting that he has enormous respect for the doctrine of party supremacy by declaring his second term ambition before the Ekiti State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress at the party’s Secretariat at Ajilosun Area of Ado Ekiti.
The party top hierarchy, led by the Acting Chairman, Bar Sola Elesin, were dazzled by this extreme display of respect and recognition for the party leadership.
The governor stunned all that were seated when he told the party in clear terms that his overt declaration doesn’t foreclose any interested party man from vying for the governorship primary. He was explicit that interested members can take a plunge for the race.
This statement was an open verdict that Governor Oyebanji was sure of himself. It confirmed his ardent belief in the ethos of participatory democracy. He believes the system should be opened to all. Unlike some governors who often deployed their governorship powers to muzzle perceived opposition and as well gag party leadership and deprive them of exercising their powers.
The take away from such conduct was that,Governor Oyebanji was an avid believer in the transiency of power : That nothing lasts forever. Like the former President of Nigeria , Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe once said: “No condition is permanent”.
Governor’s Open Respect for Electoral Law :
Before the declaration, the hoopla was much and deafening , with admirers making efforts to coerce the governor to talk and accept the myriad of endorsements he had enjoyed from more than 50 partisan and non-partisan groups across the strata of Ekiti State. This was a novelty in Ekiti’s history. There had been endorsements in the past, but these were more outstanding and louder .
The governor as a believer in the rule of law never jumped the gun. He waited until after the INEC opened the door for electioneering activities and reeled out its programmes for the off -season election in Ekiti and Osun States.
This buttressed the widespread notion that the governor is not a neophyte in the game. He knows exactly what to do, and he did just that: One, by going to the party and expressed his intention to recontest on the premise of hearkening to the popular will and intention of Ekiti people.
Ekiti APC on The Move :
Since assumption of office, Governor Oyebanji has demonstrated respect for the party at all levels.The first thing he did was affording the leaders in each of the local governments, and ward the leeway to take absolute charge in the running of the party.
This accounted for why the party leaders played pivotal roles in the composition of the State Executive Council. He didn’t take brash and unilateral decisions in this regard. Those he composed into his cabinet went through the stringent scrutinies before the party leaders. That was democracy in action.
Today in Ekiti APC, there are lesser intra party squabbles to manage owing to a governor who gives powers to where powers ordinarily belonged. He was never an obscurantist leader. Neither does he pose like a big cock that disallows the small ones from crowing. He gave room for political promotion, so that party politics can be enhanced.
It was this that actually propelled him to go before the real owners of the party and declared his second term ambition. When a society is to develop, it starts from the leaders and those who control the lever of powers. That was what our dear Governor was trying to prove and he did that convincingly.
What Next for APC Members:
The template has been set. How does this manifest? Governor Oyebanji has met all the parameters for reelection. One, he has declared his intention. Two, he has performed wonderfully well. Three, the people have asked him to continue. Four, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria allows him to recontest. In fact, all the hurdles have been removed. No impediment on the way.
Flowing from the foregoing, time has come for party men to begin aggressive mobilisation ahead of the next governorship election slated for June 20, 2026. They must criss cross everywhere to preach the gospel of self succession for BAO. Such demand wasn’t misplaced. He merits it and he must be given in the interest of our dear state.
Though before the main election, there will be know battle for the party’s ticket on October 27, 2025 APC’s governorship primary, where Governor Oyebanji will participate and will win convincingly. There are signals that he may even emerge without opposition. There are pointers to that, because the party leaders have lucidly shown where they belonged.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said he is with BAO. APC leaders in Ekiti State : former Governors Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi Phd are solidly behind him. They have told him: ‘no shaking”.
Political stalwarts in the opposition’s enclave have ruffled feathers with their leaders and stood by the governor’s reelection. Their parties threatened suspension against them, but they never cared, because they perceived BAO as a marketable product and deserved of second term.
The members of the National Assembly, (Ekiti caucus) led by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the coast is clear. The House of Assembly and all the 38 Council Chairmen have endorsed him. The party leaders across the 177 wards have queued behind his candidacy. Who then can turn the table?
Frontline leaders like: Chief Samuel Alaba Abejide, Chief Jide Awe, Prof Modupe Adelabu, Surv Biodun Aluko, Ronke Okunsanya etc have come out in clear terms that the elders have endorsed Oyebanji and the voice of the elders stands for wisdom and reality.
How can any internal opposition survive or launch any lethal onslaught under this tight circumstance? Except one is deluding himself, the road is already closed against any opponent in APC. Governor Oyebanji’s second term is secured and only God can alter this permutation.
The primary of any party is largely determined by party leaders. Former governors said they want him till 2030. All the state, local government and ward leaders said his leadership is captivating and bolstering party’s popularity. Who then can say no to him in APC?
Recently, the APC women wing went round the local governments under the leadership of the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, the SSG, Prof Habibat Adubiaro and Mrs Ronke Okusanya.
During the interfaces held across the councils, the APC women vividly showed their readiness to dive and sail with him in the ocean of second term. This support was charming, considering the attendance recorded and without dissenting voices.
The verdict is clear: which is for Governor Oyebanji to continue till 2030. This is the time Ekiti people will show that good and sacrificial leadership has a reward. They knew Oyebanji deserves to be rewarded and the only way to demonstrate this is to back his second term ambition. This they will surely do without blinking an eyelid on the D-Day.
Amb, Prince Michael Ogungbemi, the Chairman of Ajoni LCDA, wrote in from Iyemero Ekiti