Former governors of Ekiti States were among top political heavyweights that threw their weight behind the reelection of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji ahead of the 2027 general elections in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.
The stakeholders, comprising chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) converged on Ado-Ekiti for the non-partisan endorsement that cut across political parties.
According to the political figures, their endorsement was anchored on the imperative of continuity of support for President Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji in their developmental strides in all sectors of the state and the nation.
In his opening address at the statewide endorsement programme, the chairman of the endorsement committee, Surv. Abiodun Aluko said the event was staged in recognition of the good works of the duo, both in Ekiti and at the national level.
Aluko, a one-time deputy governor in the state added that the programme, staged at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti was about hope, continuity and future of Nigeria and Ekiti state.
This came as two stalwarts of People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, former Senate majority leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, a former Commissioner in the state, Mr Obafemi Adewale (SAN) and a Social Democratic Party (SDP) lawmaker representing Ise-Orun in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Omotayo dumped their parties for the APC.
At the event, former Governor Ayo Fayose, a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) endorsed bot Tinubu and Oyebanji.
Fayose said his endorsement arose from the character and performance of the duo adding that their endorsement were the reward for the work they have been doing for state and country.
For his part, another former governor of the state, Engr Segun Oni said Nigeria and Ekiti of the people’s dream were gradually emerging with Tinubu and Oyebanji in the saddle, saying this is an opportunity to work for the dream to come through.
Aiyedatiwa said both the governor and the president have been deservedly endorsed as sole candidates for second term and expressed the confidence that they were going to win overwhelmingly in the 2026 and 2027 elections.
Also, all serving and former federal lawmakers in the state endorsed the duo with a motion moved by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and seconded by Hon. Bamisile.
Bamidele said it was payback time for Tinubu who is revamping Nigeria’s economy and Oyebanji whom he said displayed great humility in governance and made the people proud in performance.
APC National Secretary, Senator Bashiru Ajibola received the defectors into the party and thanked Governor Oyebanji for bringing those he called big fish to the party while assuring that APC will conduct a free, fair and credible primary.
In his address, Governor Oyebanji, said the endorsement would further spur him to rev the pedal of development for the people.
He said he was touched by the congregation of political heavy weights who came to ratify his election for a second term.
As a rare show of political sportsmanship, Oyebanji declared that his endorsement did not foreclose the right of interested party members from contesting for the governorship on the platform of the APC.
He stressed that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not prevent those interested from taking a plunge.
