- ‘Southwest should take voter registration serious’
Over 130 pan-Yoruba civil society and community-based groups in Lagos State yesterday vowed to mobilise for the re-election of Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
The groups converged under the umbrella of the ‘Conference of Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movement (AYDM) to discuss the theme: ‘Election in Yorubaland: which way forward?
Speakers focussed on democracy, good governance and the imperative of right choice.
Journalist and rights activist Wale Adeoye spoke on ‘Southwest elections:the role of the common man.’
Also, a pro-democracy crusader Popoola Ajayi spoke on ‘Democracy and good governance in Ekiti in the last two years.’
The members of the coalition came from the six Southwest ststes, Kogi, Kwara and some parts of Delta and Edo states.
The AYDM described Oyebanji as a beacon of hope, not just for Ekiti State, but for the entire Yoruba Nation and countrty at large.
Adeoye described Oyebanji as a competent governor, who should be given a second term to complete his laudable projects
He said: “He has made us proud in Yorubaland. He epitomises Omoluabi. He stands tall among his peers. His support for regional integration is remarkable. He has built milestones in education, road construction, public health, agriculture and transparency in governance.”
Adeoye lamented that the people of Southwest have not accorded priority to voter registration, urging them to change their actitude.
He said election should not be perceived as the exclusive affair of the party members, adding: “There is strength in the number of votes you have.”
Ajayi, who urged massive support for Oyebanji, said the governor is serving Ekiti with patriotism, integrity and sense of responsibility.
He praised him for his open door policy, stresing that the town hall meetings, feedbacks, transparency, accountability, accessibility, cordial legislative/executive relations, women and youth engagement, and inclusive policies are worthy of condemnation.
Ajayi also said that the prompt payment of workers salaries and pensions for retirees have restored dignity into the public service.
Over 1000 people attended the event held in Lagos. In a communiqe, the Alliance said elections in any part of Yoruba indigenous territories is of critical importance to all residents in the old Western Region including states where Yoruba are indigenous.
As part of its decisions after the two-day conference, the AYDM set up a South West Election Working Group, (EWOG) that would begin door-to-door campaign across Ekiti State once the electoral umpire blows the whistle for the campaign.
‘We adopt the Governor of Ekiti State to strengthen a uniform political outlook of the people that in the South West. It is in the strategic interest of a people with one history, one culture and one civilisation to have a uniform political aspiration. It strengthens regional integration and sustainable development,’ the AYDM said in the statement signed by its General Secretary Popoola Ajayi on behalf of the coalition.
The AYDM said the platform has brought together the most potent socio-cultural and community-based groups across the Old Western Region to speak with one voice for a people with shared history, blood-bound relationship and common aspiration.
“The adoption will help mobilise people who live in Ekiti and those who live outside Ekiti but register in Ekiti State to vote massively for Oyebanji in the next gubernatorial election,’ the AYDM said.
The group stated that elections are also a critical definition of ancestral territories and that elections anywhere in the Old Western Region is like a cobweb in which no single thread can be pulled without affecting the whole network. It said the entire humanity in the old Western Region should show keen interest in any of the Yoruba States in the interest of prosperity and development in the region.
The AYDM said the South West would be a better place with a unified development possible only when the region has a political party with a common agenda. AYDM said historically, the people in these territories have lived together for centuries, in time of war and in times of peace and that at a point in Nigerian history, the people were grouped into the old Western Region excluding Kwara and Kogi states amidst protests by people living in these territories;
It noted that elections, political-economy, culture and values of the indigenous people in these territories are the same and therefore, the people should always at all times unite, present a common front that reflects their historical and blood bound relationship;
The alliance said it would will mobilise, conscientise and educate the people in villages and towns; dwellers of the mountains, the plains and open fields, including seafarers and occupants of the seashores in order to ensure the emergence of credible, honest and dedicated leaders;
That the AYDM is concerned about future elections bearing in mind that the people cannot continue to be cannon folders but should take active play active and decisive role in shaping their own future, realising that the next election in the South West is the Ekiti election.
Other resolutions are as follows:
“Ekiti State with a population of 4million is one of the least beneficiaries of Federal allocation being one of the states on the lowest rank in the ladder;
“These limited resources have not deterred the State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji from deepening democracy and transforming the state excellently;
“AYDM is impressed about the recurrent and capital projects embarked upon by the State Governor covering agriculture, tourism, education, wealth creation, road construction, job creation, youth empowerment, infrastructure and human liberty;
“The administration of Oyebanji has performed creditable well rating far above average. He should given limited available resources have been able to impact the lives of majority of the people of Ekiti State.”
He has opened up fresh vistas of hope, lifting the people from despair;
“The AYDM will work and ensure massive, overwhelming and decisive victory for the Ekiti State governor in the forthcoming Governorship election;
“YDM hereby instructs all it’s affiliate members across the South West to prepare for mass mobilisation for the second term of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji;
“As soon as the ban on the 2027 Campaign is lifted, all affiliate members should begin house-to-house, door-to-to campaign to ensure victory for Mr Abiodun Oyebanji with a percentage never before seen in Ekiti electoral history.
“In the area of Education, EKSU currently even in the face of limited resources is at the 12th position in a total of 270 universities in Nigeria including public and private.
“The tradition of transparency he has built is evident in the comprehensive ranking list published by Times Higher Education rating for 2025.The BudgIT also scored Ekiti State Government 100 out of 100 in its ratings.
“Ekiti was also placed at the top of the fiscal transparency index in the country.The foundation said the rating is based on budget approval, quarterly BIR, 2023. Other considerations were the audited financial statements, Accountant-General’s Reports, E-Procurement Portal, and State Website Data Accessibility apart from many other forms of assessment.
The AYDM is the largest coalition of Pan Yoruba groups made up of 130 coalition members drawn from community based, artisan and professional groups. There are 130 AYDM coalition members which includes but not limited to South West Professional, (SOWPROF); O’odua Peoples Congress, (OPC-New Era); Yoruba Communities in West Africa, (YOCWA), O’odua Peoples Congress, OPC (Reformed);Agbekoya; South West Farmers Forum,(SWFAF); United Itsekiri Peoples Congress, (UIPC); ANAMMACO, representing Okada all Riders in the South West; South West Students Coalition, (SWSC); O’odua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC); Yoruba Community Association in Northern Nigeria, (YOCANN); Ilaje Peoples Assembly; Igbimo Omo O’odua in Diaspora, Afenifere Progressive Youth Movement, (APYM), Egbe Ibile, Yoruba Artisan and Traders Association, (YATA), Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, (NATA), with some 5million registered members of mechanics established in 1953; Covenant Group, South West Professionals,(SOWPROF); Association of Yoruba Communities in West Africa (AYOCWA); Yoruba Artisan and Traders Association, (NATA); O’odua International Democratic Movement, (OIDEM); and O’odua Muslim-Christian Dialogue Group,(OIDEM).
