Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has declared that the All Progressives Congress will capture all 177 wards in the state during the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
Oyebanji made this bold declaration at Ikogosi Ekiti on Saturday whilst addressing party members during the APC delegates’ congress at his ward.
The governor attributed his confidence to what he described as the party’s growing appeal across the state, including amongst opposition members, following his administration’s performance over the past three years.
“In the last three years that we have been at the saddle, we have made the party more attractive to people, we have had a lot of members coming in from other parties to join APC because we have been able to deliver on various deliverables,” Oyebanji said.
“I can assure you with God being on our side, the record we want to break, by the grace of God, on June 20 next year, is the record of winning 177 wards. It has never happened in the history of this State before, but on June 20 next year, God being on our side, APC will win convincingly all the 177 wards.”
The delegates’ congress, which took place across all 177 wards in the state’s 16 local government areas, was held to elect delegates for Monday’s governorship primary election where Oyebanji is expected to emerge as the party’s candidate.
The APC National Working Committee had earlier announced Oyebanji as the party’s consensus governorship candidate after Mrs Atinuke Olayemi Omolayo, the second aspirant, withdrew from the race. Two other aspirants, Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olawumi, were disqualified by the party.
Commending party members for their conduct, Oyebanji described the exercise as “another demonstration of the maturity and discipline that define the APC in Ekiti State.”
“You can see that our members are happy and united in one accord to exercise their franchise. You can also see that in all the wards, delegates were elected by consensus, which speaks to the unity between the leadership and the membership of the party in Ekiti State,” he added.
The Chairman of the APC Delegates Congress Committee for Ekiti State, Jaret Tenebe, who is also the APC chairman in Edo State, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the congress elections.
“Our team has moved around all local governments and various wards in the state. I commend Governor Biodun Oyebanji for making the party more proud,” Tenebe said, adding that the party followed due process throughout the exercise.
A coalition of civil society organisations and Independent National Electoral Commission-registered observers also praised the peaceful conduct of the delegates’ election.
The groups—Citizen Right For Peace And Non Violence Initiative, Global Development Centre For Rescue Mission Nigeria, and Suitable African Initiative For Suitable And Positive Development—issued a communique read by their Coordinator, Romanus Azubuike, in Ado Ekiti on Saturday.
“The election was conducted in a peaceful and conducive manner, under the watchful presence of various security agencies,” the communique stated.
Azubuike noted that the CSOs observed the congress across the three senatorial districts of the state, adding that there was “an impressive turnout of joyful and enthusiastic party faithful who participated in the exercise.”
The observers commended Oyebanji for providing a conducive environment for the exercise whilst demonstrating “true leadership by not interfering in the process, despite being a candidate in the election.”
“We consider this exercise not only crucial but also highly significant, as it represents a vital step toward ensuring a peaceful and transparent primary election, whilst creating a conducive environment for inclusiveness and fairness,” Azubuike stated.
