Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has been adopted as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2026 governorship election.
His adoption was confirmed on Monday at the Ekiti State Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti, through a unanimous voice vote by 885 delegates drawn from the 177 wards across the 16 local government areas of the state.
The decision marks a significant moment for the party, as Oyebanji becomes the first sitting governor under the APC banner in Ekiti to secure a back-to-back nomination since the return of democracy.
The affirmation exercise was set in motion by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, who moved the motion for Oyebanji’s adoption.
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The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, seconded the motion, sealing the governor’s candidacy by popular consensus.
In his address, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, who chaired the APC Affirmation Congress Committee, described the process as an inclusive and transparent decision by party members.
“The decision to adopt Governor Oyebanji was not imposed. It reflects our collective resolve to sustain the good works of the APC government in Ekiti,” Ododo stated.
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The National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, had on Sunday inaugurated an 11-man Consensus Committee in Ado-Ekiti to oversee the exercise.
The committee, chaired by Ododo and co-chaired by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, was tasked with conducting the formal affirmation of Oyebanji’s candidacy.
Speaking through his representative, Deputy National Organising Secretary Nze Chidi Duru, Yilwatda commended the peaceful conduct of delegates and praised Governor Oyebanji’s leadership style, which he said had endeared him to party members across the state. He urged members to maintain unity and decorum before and after the convention.
Gov. Oyebanji Expresses Gratitude, Calls For Collaboration
In his acceptance speech, Governor Biodun Oyebanji expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate Leader Bamidele, the Ekiti National Assembly caucus, Speaker Aribasoye, and former governors Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi for their support.
“I accept this honour to fly our party’s flag in the 2026 governorship election. This is historic, the first time a sitting APC governor in Ekiti will be so adopted. I do not take this privilege for granted,” he said.
Oyebanji appealed to his fellow aspirants and party members to work together for the progress of Ekiti, urging them to avoid divisive politics and online attacks.
“There is no victor and no vanquished. The APC belongs to all of us. Let us join hands to lift Ekiti higher,” he said.
The event was witnessed by top APC figures, including members of the National Working Committee and party elders from within and outside the state.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.