The people of Ekiti State, supported by the serving political class at both the state and national levels, yesterday endorsed Governor Biodun Oyebanji and President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.
The people who thronged Ado-Ekiti, the state capital for the event included leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), political leaders and stakeholders and non-partisan groups.
They premised their continuity support for the governor and president on their developmental strides in all sectors of the state and the nation.
In his opening address at the statewide endorsement programme held for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji/ Monisade Christianah Afuye, the chairman of the endorsement committee, Surv. Abiodun Aluko said the event was staged in recognition of the duo’s good works 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 and attended by a crowd of workers, professional associations, other interest groups and top politicians is about hope, continuity and the future of Nigeria and Ekiti state.
This came as two stalwarts of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state—former Senate majority leader Senator Biodun Olujimi, former commissioner Mr Obafemi Adewale (SAN), and a Social Democratic Party (SDP) lawmaker representing Ise-Orun at the state House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Omotayo—dumped their parties for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Eminent politicians present include, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former governors of Ekiti state, Otunba Niyi Adedayo, Mr Ayo Fayose, Chief Segun Oni, Senate Leader, NPA chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, MD/CEO, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, APC national secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, Senator Cyril Fajuyi, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and all Ekiti house of representatives members led by Hon. Femi Bamisile, all Ekiti former federal lawmakers, all members of the state House of Assembly led by Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye, state Exco members, LGAs and LCDAs chairman among others.
Adedayo, Fayose, and Oni took turns endorsing President Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji while addressing the large crowd that attended the event.
Fayose said he is endorsing both Tinubu and Oyebanji because of their character and performance, while Adedayo said their endorsement is a reward for the work they have been doing for the state and country.
Oni said Nigeria and Ekiti, the dream of ours, is gradually coming true with Tinubu and Oyebanji in the saddle, saying this is an opportunity to work for the dream to come through.
Aiyedatiwa said the governor and the president have been deservedly endorsed as the sole candidates for a second term, and they will win overwhelmingly in the 2026 and 2027 elections.
Also, all the serving and former federal lawmakers endorsed the duo with a motion moved by Senator Bamidele and seconded by Hon. Bamisile.
The Senate Leader said it is payback time for Tinubu, who is revamping Nigeria’s economy, and for Oyebanji, who he said displayed great humility in governance and made the people proud in performance.
The APC national secretary welcomed the defectors to the party and thanked the governor for bringing big fish to the party. He said the APC would 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 heavyweights who came to ratify his election for a second term.
As a rare show of political sportsmanship, Oyebanji said the endorsement doesn’t abridge anybody’s rights from contesting for the governorship on the platform of APC, saying the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria doesn’t preclude those interested from taking a plunge.
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