Ekiti State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has declared that he has no caucus among the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that he holds no grudge against anyone within the party.
Governor Oyebanji stated this on Monday when he visited the State Secretariat of the Party in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, where he met with the state executives and local government chairmen of the party.
He was accompanied on the visit by his deputy, Chief Mrs. Monisade Afuye; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Secretary to the State Government, Prof Abibat Adubiaro; the Chief of Staff, Mr. Niyi Adebayo and his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Jide Awe.
According to a statement sent to LEADERSHIP by the State Publicity Secretary of APC, Segun Dipe on Monday, the Governor told the party leadership of his ambition to seek reelection under the platform of the APC for a second term in 2026 during the meeting.
He said he believed he had represented the Party well in his first term and had earned the confidence of not only the party faithful but the people of Ekiti State.
According to Oyebanji, the party must have heard the clarion call of the people who gathered to endorse his second term candidacy recently, along with that of the President Bola Tinubu, and if indeed they merited the trust, they should be allowed by the party to run for the second term as the governor and President, come 2026 and 2027, respectively.
The governor said the President was really supporting the state through him and giving him special recognition and assistance.
“Please join me to thank President Tinubu and let us double our votes for him for the second term,” he said, while listing some of his achievements in the state to include construction and maintenance of roads, which he said had gulped N130billion in one year, representing the entire budget of the state three years ago.
He also spoke about the efforts of his administration in the area of welfare and security, which he said had translated to peaceful cohabitation by the people. Part of his efforts to ensure peace, he said was drawing the leaders of opposition to his government and ensuring that the resources coming to the state was well managed.
Speaking on his relations with part governors of the state, Oyebanji said, “In Ekiti APC, the hierarchy remains such that Otunba Adebayo is at the helm, followed by Dr. Fayemi, while I am next on the ladder. You can see that I don’t call meetings of the party to Ikogosi, my country home, instead, we either meet at Iyin the country home of Otunba Adebayo or Isan, the country home of Dr. Fayemi.”
Oyebanji also welcome perceived opposition within the party, saying he did not see anything wrong since people would always contest for good things, which only the best can win.
He urged the party to ensure the involvement of everyone within the party without any discrimination when the process for the 2026 governorship election commences.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the party, Hon (Barr) Olusola Elesin thanked the Governor for his regard to the party.
The party Exco thereafter passed a vote of confidence on the governor’s administration, pledging their continued support for him.
