The stage is gradually being set for next year’s governorship election in Ekiti State. Political activities are fast gaining momentum. RASAQ IBRAHIM examines the strengths, weaknesses and prospects of the three aspirants jostling for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket.
Following the announcement of the Ekiti State governorship election date by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the political atmosphere in the Land of Honour has changed.
Politics have dominated public discourse with parties mobilising and aspirants are sharpening their strategies ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election. The once-calm political landscape is now buzzing with activities. Campaign posters flood towns, jingles dominate the airwaves, and the social media has become a battleground of propaganda and counter-propaganda.
The aspirants and their supporters have turned digital platforms into arenas for political warfare, promoting their own candidates while discrediting rivals with calculated and odd narratives and biting commentary. The stakes are high, and the desperation among the camps is becoming increasingly evident.
Governorship election is not conducted in Ekiti same time with general elections nationwide following a historical shift in the state’s electoral calendar, caused by a protracted legal battle between former Governor Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi over the 2007 governorship poll.
According to INEC, political parties are expected to conduct their primaries on or before November 10, 2025 and submit the list of their candidates no later than December than December 22, 2025.
While the APC had fixed its shadow poll otherwise called primary for October 27, 2025, PDP is yet to fix a date for its own primary to elect the party flag bearer for the governorship election.
Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 after years of military rule, Ekiti’s political landscape of has been shaped by competitive governorship primaries within the progressive fold; from the Alliance for Democracy to the Action Congress of Nigeria, and now the All Progressives Congress.
In 1999, Otunba Niyi Adebayo emerged as the AD candidate after defeating prominent contenders such as Reuben Famuyibo, Chief Paul Alabi, and Obafemi Adewale, a victory that paved way for his emergence as the first democratically elected governor of Ekiti State.
The 2007 primary was another high-stakes affair involving Kayode Fayemi, Senators Ayo Arise, Dayo Adeyeye, and several others. Although Fayemi initially lost the general election to Segun Oni of the People’s Democratic Party, he was later declared the rightful winner by the Court of Appeal after a protracted legal battle.
In 2014, as the incumbent governor, Fayemi was adopted as the APC’s flag bearer unopposed. This followed the defection of Senator Opeyemi Bamidele who had shown interest in the ticket to the Labour Party. He contested under the LP but finished a distant third behind PDP’s Ayodele Fayose.
The 2018 APC primary saw a crowded field of aspirants. No fewer than 33 bird for the party ticket including Babafemi Ojudu, former speaker Femi Bamisile, Wole Oluyede, Senator Bamidele, Kayode Ojo, and Segun Oni. Eventually, Fayemi emerged victorious once again.
In 2022, the APC fielded Biodun Oyebanji, then Secretary to Ekiti State Government, as its candidate. He emerged victorious in the party primary after Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Femi Bamisile, Eng.Kayode Ojo, Bamidele Faparusi, and Otunba Demola Popoola. Oyebanji, in a landslide victory won the general election,defeating PDP’s Bisi Kolawole.
But, this time around,only three aspirants have indicated interest so far. They are the incumbent Governor Oyebanji former Pro-Chancellor of University of Nigerian, Nsukka (UNN), Engr. Kayode Ojo, and a fearless human right activist and social media personality, Abimbola Olajumoke. They are all from Ekiti Central Senatorial District.
Unlike past governorship elections in the state, prominent APC figures from Ekiti South Senatorial District, a region that has never produced a governor since the creation of the state in 1996 have stayed away from the race. Many believe this is a strategic decision, anticipating that the governorship might be zoned to South in 2031 after Oyebanji completes second term.
Despite the smaller number of aspirants, the gubernatorial contest is expected to be intense. The three contenders have launched campaigns, investing heavily in political outreach, media presence and grassroots mobilization.
The aspirants have obtained the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms. Governor Oyebanji’s forms were purchased by members of the Ekiti State University Alumni Association, led by Engr. Dipo Bamisheayi, who said they pooled resources to raise the N50 million fee, citing Oyebanji’s performance in his first term.
A delegation of APC stakeholders led by pioneer Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker, Kolawole Adeyemi, secured the forms for Ojo, describing him as a visionary leader capable of rescuing the state.
Olajumoke alongside her supporters personally picked up his forms at the APC National Secretariat, promising to transform Ekiti’s political and economic landscape if elected.
The expression of interest by the duo of Kayode Ojo and Olajumoke shocked many political observers, who hitherto felt the incumbent would not have any challenger.
The shadow poll is viewed by political pundits to be an easy ride for Oyebanji in a free and fair atmosphere. While the process is technically open, the existing realities in the state and the party clearly suggest that the governor remains head and shoulders above other aspirants.
Oyebanji enters the race not only with the power of incumbency but also with a rare consensus within his party. Last month, the power brokers across partisan divides gave him a clean bill of health for second term in office during a statewide endorsement, casting a doubt to any serious opposition. Subsequent endorsements from grassroots leaders, traditional rulers, market women, union leaders and civil servants have further underscored his dominance in the race.
However, the two aspirants namely Ojo who hails from Ikoro-Ekiti in Ijero local government area and Olajumoke from Iyin-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Council Area of Ekiti state have emerged to challenge Oyebanji in the APC shadow poll.
Ojo fondly called EKO is one of those perennial aspirants who refuses to give up on the dream of governing Ekiti state. He has become a recurring face in governorship contests, but his political record is defined more by failure than success.
The Engineer turned politician shot into political limelight during the run up to the APC primaries in 2018 where he came distant third at the primary. In 2022, he made another attempt to fly the party’s ticket but was roundly defeated by the incumbent governor at the shadow poll.
Despite two unsuccessful attempts at the APC governorship ticket; finishing a distant third in 2018 and being defeated by the incumbent in 2022, Ojo continues to posture as a contender.
His strength lies in his deep pocket. To many observers, if politics in Ekiti state were strictly about cash, Ojo might stand a chance. But his reliance on spending power without grassroots presence or structures has repeatedly exposed him as politically lightweight.
To many analyst, Ojo worst undoing has been his consistent absence from Ekiti and the APC once the elections are over. He resurfaces only when governorship primaries approach, then vanishes after defeat.
His decision to withdraw from the state’s political scene immediately after losing in 2022, without consolidating on the goodwill he garnered at the primaries as he did in 2018, is widely viewed as a major setback.
Many of the few politicians who once identified with his ambition are believed to have drifted away, citing his prolonged absence from party activities. At present, no major APC stakeholder in the state is associated with him, further weakening his standing.
Analysts argue that his failure to build a robust political structure or secure the backing of key party leaders leaves him on the margins rather than at the centre of the governorship primaries. While speculation persists that he may defect to another party if denied the ticket, his loyalists have dismissed such rumours as baseless and unfounded.
The second challenger, Olajumoke, is a fearless human rights activist and social media personality. She is approaching the contest with a bold agenda tagged “Make Ekiti Great Again” MEGA.
According to her, her foray into politics is borne out of a deep passion to champion the cause of the youth and the masses downtrodden, while amplifying issues that affect their daily lives.
Declaring her governorship ambition shortly in Abuja after obtaining the APC nomination forms, she vowed to liberate Ekiti state from the shackles of under-development, poverty, insecurity and infrastructural decay. She promised to run an all-inclusive government where the people would be the cornerstone of decision-making.
For her admirers, Olajumoke represents a breath of fresh air. She is seen as a voice of defiance against the status quo, beacon of hope for the hopeless and helpless.The human rights activist has built a reputation as a fearless crusader, unafraid to take on the establishment.
Olajumoke’s strongest asset lies in her command of the digital space.With fast-growing influence across social media platforms,she has harnessed these tools to promote her ambition, mobilize young supporters, and launch blistering attacks on Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
She has also acquired notoriety for using her platforms to lampoon and, at times, abuse perceived opponents, an action that clearly undermines her credibility in political circles. Over the years, she has picked fights with traditional rulers in the state, governors, and their wives , using her social media platforms as a mega-phone for insults and abuse rather than constructive engagement.Her combative style has raised doubt about her maturity for public office.
Political analysts believe that, beyond the screens and digital space, Olajumoke’s influence collapses. She’s is seen as a virtual politician with little to no presence in the actual political landscape of Ekiti.
They dismissed her ambition as little more than symbolic noise, arguing that she has no genuine popularity outside of social media, no political structures to lean on, no financial strength to fund a campaign, and no grassroots network to mobilize votes.
In Ekiti politics,where structures, party leaders and institutional support matter more than digital campaigns and social media presence, such an aspiration is unlikely to survive beyond the energy of social media and theatrics of symbolic participation.
To this end, Ojo and Olajumoke face significant challenges in their quest to clinch the party’s governornship ticket. The duo campaign have struggled to gain traction, with many party members backing Governor Oyebanji. No major APC leader in the state is associated with their aspiration. The feeling is that the other aspirants may not be able to withstand the governor’s arsenal at the primaries.
Analyst claimed that Oyebanji is poised to clinch the party ticket. The governor’s impressive track records and firm grip on APC machinery give him a significant edge ahead of his challengers. He has the grassroot reach, presence, resources and support of APC members in all the 16 local government areas of the state.
He has leveraged his office to strengthen his position within the umbrella party, delivering on campaign promises and earning widespread recognition as well as support from Ekiti residents including former governors Adebayo, Ayo Fayose, Segun Oni and Fayemi. The quartet are no pushovers in Ekiti politics.
Oyebanji administration’s achievements in infrastructure development, education, and healthcare have endeared him to the people, who are likely to rally behind him in the shadow poll. He has built strong relationships with party stakeholders, including ward chairmen and delegates and maintain unbreakable ties with party members which will likely play a crucial role in the primaries.
Despite his incumbency, virile grassroots support, and political structures, some analysts have argued Oyebanji could be affected by the alleged involvement of his political leader, ex-governor Fayemi in opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu.
They pointed out that, given Oyebanji’s longstanding political association with Fayemi, there may be wild speculations about how this could shape dynamics within the national political landscape.
However, observers are quick to point that Oyebanji has steadily outgrown the early tag of being a mere appendage of Fayemi’s political machinery . While his rise to prominence is inseparable from the foundation laid by his predecessor, Oyebanji has gone on to chart a path that reflects independence, pragmatism, and a more people-centric leadership style.
Unlike Fayemi, who was often viewed through the lens of intellectual elitism, the governor has cultivated an image of accessibility and grassroots appeal. This has allowed him to consolidate a wider base of support within Ekiti, giving him a political leverage that extends beyond inherited structures.
They argued that Oyebanji’s consistent loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and his smooth relationship him, a significant factor that places him on strong footing to navigate any such perceptions.
The forthcoming shadow poll has turned fierce, with accusations and counter-accusations shaping the build-up to the APC shadow poll fixed for October 27, 2025.
The fiercest confrontation is between Oyebanji and Ojo. The businessman has openly accused the governor of financial impropriety, alleging mismanagement of over N286 billion in federal allocations and N70 billion in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
He further accused Oyebanji of turning APC into “private fiefdom,” intimidating aspirants, threatening party officials, and using state institutions to harass his supporters.
Ojo, speaking through the head of his campaign team, Olukayode Oluyemo urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the governor, warning that such alleged excesses could destabilize the party and further damage the president’s reelection prospects in 2027.
The Engineer turned politician insists that APC must not be reduced to “family inheritance,” accusing the governor of desperation. He added the governor’s popularity is fast dwindling, even within his inner circle.
He expressed confidence that Ojo would win the party’s primary election despite alleged attacks and harassment from Oyebanji’s camp.
He restated his determination to govern Ekiti State to redress what he called “the inexplicable stagnation ravaging Ekiti despite the huge monthly allocation from the Federation Account as well as the state’s potential for development and growth”.
He said that his campaign team had been mobilising APC members ahead of the forthcoming primaries to enable Ojo pick the party ticket, saying,“The problem we have been having is attacks from the side of the government, which probably feels that there should not be any opposition.
“We are not opposition members. We are members of the same party.We only have our preferred aspirant, who we are backing to emerge as flagbearer.”
The aspirant alleged that his supporters were being framed up and arrested for fictitious offences, calling on the police to provide a level playing ground for all APC members to choose and follow their preferred aspirants preparatory to the party’s governorship primary election.
He stated, “We equally plead with the leadership of APC in Ekiti State to eschew partisanship and embrace all governorship aspirants as one in the APC family.
“We also plead with President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of our great party to caution Governor Oyebanji against ordering the arrest, harassment and maiming of APC members in Ekiti State. The forthcoming primary election is not a do-or-die affair,” he said.
He urged supporters across the state to remain steadfast and unshakably loyal to the cause by stepping up mobilisation efforts across the 16 local government areas of the state without any fear as the day of liberation draws near”.
But, in a swift reaction, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, dismissed the allegations describing them as “reckless blackmail” targeted at discrediting the governor.
He said that the allegations of financial impropriety against the governor were “baseless, false and malicious,” insisting that every kobo received by the state were duly accounted for and records of transparency, audits, and due process are available for scrutiny.
According to the Special Adviser, Ojo’s narrative is “a poorly disguised excuse in anticipation of defeat.”
Olatunbosun maintained that Ekiti state under Oyebanji had become one of the most transparent states in Nigeria, citing open budget processes, quarterly fiscal disclosures, and national recognition by BudgIT.
He said, “It is shameful that Ojo who has no record of public service or community development, would hurl accusations in a desperate attempt to gain relevance.
“The claim that the governor has reduced APC to a “private fiefdom” is laughable, especially when it is on record that Oyebanji’s leadership has opened the political space, accommodated diverse interests, and unified the party across tendencies.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the APC is not under siege in Ekiti. There is no intimidation of aspirants, no harassment of party officials, and certainly no use of security agencies to hound opponents. These are tales concocted by a camp that has seen its support base evaporate and resorting to victimhood theatrics.
“Instead of whipping up falsehood, Ojo should face reality that APC members know the difference between substance and empty noise. Ekiti people are wise enough to separate genuine leadership from desperate ambition.
“Governor Oyebanji will not be distracted by lies, blackmail, and attempt by Ojo to drag President Tinubu into his sinking political project. The governor remains one of the president’s most trusted allies in Southwest and no amount of false alarms can sow discord between them”, he added.
