Record-breaking crowd endorse BAO for second term
As Ekiti mobilise for Tinubu’s Second Term
By Wole Olujobi
Bells of endorsement calls rang through the length and breadth of Ekiti State Monday, July 28, 2025, for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, as residents, in a blaze of pomp and drums, stormed Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, to seek the governor’s nod to accede to their calls to offer himself for further service to Ekiti people in the 2026 governorship election. This, they said, would enable him complete the execution of his development programmes encapsulated in his six-point agenda.
They also threw their weight behind President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to run for second term to enable him consolidate on his economic reform agenda to put Nigeria on a firm footing for the nation’s developmental goals.
From Otun to Omuo, Efon to Ijan, Ikere to Ijero, and Ikogosi/Erinjiyan to Iye/Eda Oniyo and far-flung Ipao/Oke-Ako, the innocence of the early morning serenity of the state capital was shattered by the sweating throngs of citizens trekking long distances, and who in colourful attires, stormed the streets of Ado-Ekiti to stage the biggest rally ever in form of a protest to seek a demand for just one thing: that Governor Oyebanji and Deputy Governor Monisade Christiana Afuye MUST offer themselves again for their services to Ekiti people, while also demanding a second term for President Tinubu as the elixir to firm up political justice, economic revival and peaceful co-existence in the nation’s polity.
For the first time in Ekiti State, the calls were not from the partisan choruses of the ruling party members, but from across the various non-partisan segments of the society, including informal sectors in the artisans and tradesmen groups; civil servants, teachers, transportation unions, professional groups and students bodies, among others, who joined multi-partisan platforms to converge on the Ekitiparapo Pavilion rally venue to urge Tinubu and the governor to spare more of their time to serve the people.
It was simply ‘Ekiti Mandate’ in one voice and in both form and content!
The call on Oyebanji is not without basis, as the governor, besides recording sterling performance, has, for the first time, set a standard in inter-partisan mutual relationship, as members from across party lines have forged a common front as an essential element of productive governance to grow Ekiti State from the past acrimonious relationship founded on adversarial politicking. For them, a focus-based visionary agenda for the common good of Ekiti people is the way to go to serve the larger interest of the people.
The results so far have proven Ekiti people right in their decision to go with BAO for a fresh breath of air to see development in its stark form after years of ambushes propelled by partisan hostilities against the ruling party.
No wonder, owing to the unprecedented peace in the hitherto combustive state, the rally was co-led by some prominent members of opposition political parties, notably members of the main opposition PDP, and their counterparts in SDP, including leaders of other political parties that have presence in the state.
Former Governor Segun Oni was present at the rally, the same with former Governor Ayodele Fayose, who stormed the rally with thousands of his supporters in t-shirts branded in Oyebanji’s photograph.
Fayose had at several fora made it plain that BAO is the way to go. His argument is that though he is a member of PDP, Oyebanji of APC represents the best hope for accelerated development and peaceful co-existence among various political tendencies in the state, insisting that Ekiti State is better managed in Oyebanji’s hands than dwelling on the nuances of partisan rhetoric.
Their senior prefect and first Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, is always at the head of the table nodding in approval as support swells for Oyebanji among critical stakeholders, including the royalty and the yokel across the state, who urged the Governor to continue to bear the torch to light Ekiti way to the promised land.
The leaders seem to echo a French novelist and playwright, Honore de Balzac, during his desperate moment for survival when he called out for a certain physician to save him, yelling: “Call me Banchioc, only Banchioc can save me now!”
And so in the etho governed by the community spirit to see more development for Nigerians and Ekiti people on particular, partisanship was interred on the alter of collective desire for more improved conditions of living among Nigerians.
Even though a month of unceasing rains, whether by lunar/phoebus conspiracy or sheer divine favours, the heavens smiled on Ekiti people, who shunned partisanship for collective destiny, as the weather was clement to enable them plough for bountiful harvests from Oyebanji’s visionary leadership.
And so today, Monday July 28, 2025, Ekiti people woke up to a morning that Oya, the goddess of rainstorms in her blanket of gaseous veil and with her cousin Jupiter by her side, had eclipsed the flaming tongues of great Phoebus, the god of the Sun, as Appolo himself stood guard to provide the comfort of July weather across Ado-Ekiti skylines. Even the heavily pregnant clouds refused induced delivery!
As early as eight o’clock, human and vehicular traffic snarls had formed by huge crowds that pressed hard on the streets and choked life out of the ever-busy adjoining routes to the rally venue, as mammoth crowds of residents in their bright colours stormed the venue amid drumming and dancing to seek Oyebanji’s hands in visionary leadership and collaborative governance scheme, to grow the largely agrarian Ekiti State to a technological and commercial hub for the development needs of Ekiti people.
In what looked like a crusade that draws large crowds in search of salvation, thousands of residents struggled to gain access to the venue of the rally, as crowds surged and surged to be part of history as the clock ticks for the 2026 governorship ballot.
If the arrival of the former governors was dramatic, that of Governor Oyebanji was electrifying, as the deafening shouts of BAO rent the air and ruffled the gentle ambiance of the rally venue, providing an encore to the colour and charm that characterised the entire proceedings.
Former Deputy Governor Abiodun Aluko, who spoke on behalf of the political half of the organisers, said the event was not a political ceremony but a call across the segments of the Ekiti society to unite behind a common vision to urge Nigerians and Ekiti State people to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to continue to deliver good governance in all ramifications.
He expressed appreciation to party leaders, Labour unions, market unions, youths, professional groups for believing in Tinubu and Oyebanji as demonstrated in their massive presence at the event.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who spoke on behalf of Ekiti people at the event where former Deputy Governor, Senator Biodun Olujimi, defected to APC, moved the motion seconded by Hon Femi Bamisile for the endorsement of Tinubu and Oyebanji for second term on account of their innovative governance to redirect the economy for a prosperous Nigeria and Ekiti’s growth.
Speaker Aribasoye, on behalf of other Assembly members, spoke in the same vein, stressing the need for the President and Governor Oyebanji to continue their quality services.
Karounwi presented Tinubu and Oyebanji’s endorsement letters to Basiru for onward presentation to the President and governor.
While assuring a level-playing ground for party’s primaries to elect the governorship candidate, Basiru urged Ekiti people and entire Nigerians to support Tinubu in the 2027 Presidential election and support the governor to deliver quality service in Ekiti State.
The Senate Leader, Bamidele, said the endorsement of the two leaders demonstrated the appreciation the people had for them.
He praised Oyebanjo and Afuye for their quality service to the people.
He urged Ekiti people not to be deceived into joining ADC, saying the party represented a retrogressive vehicle that should be avoided like a plague.
Segun Oni said since Nigerians were rooting for Tinubu, Ekiti people must follow suit to support Oyebanji, stressing that Ekiti people must play frontline roles in Nigeria’s project for progress, adding: “Ekiti’s success story of our dream is coming with Oyebanji; Nigeria’s success story of our dream is on the way with Tinubu.”
Fayose who said even though he was not a member of APC “and will never be”, said as the record holder in Ekiti for winning all the 16 local governments in the governorship election, he was motivated by Oyebanji’s records and Oni’s soft spot for the governor to support him and deputy governor for second term.
Former Governor Adebayo, who delivered former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s message, praised Tinubu and Oyebanji for quality service delivery.
He welcomed the new defectors to APC and urged other like-minded people in other political parties to come on board to work for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Basiru urged Ekiti people to be resolute in their resolve to support Tinubu to enable him continue to deliver on his life-lifting schemes for the Nigerian youths and other critical segments of the nation.
Others who joined Olujimi to defect to APC included Obafemi Adewale (SAN) and former Ekiti State Attorney General; and Minority Leader in Ekiti State House of Assembly, Babatunde Omotayo.
Olujimi, who spoke on behalf of new members, praised the former governors of the state for their forthright leadership, even as she praised Oyebanji for quality delivery of service to Ekiti people. She assured that new members would contribute their quota to strengthen the party to win elections and deliver quality service to the people.
At the event anchored by Yemisi Ayokunle, Ayodeji Afolabi and Ojo Akinlade and where Olujimi formally joined the party, were former Governors Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, Segun Oni, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of Ondo State, former Deputy Governors Biodun Aluko and Prof Dupe Adelabu; Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye.
Others are APC National Secretary of APC, Basiru Ajibola; Acting State Chairman of APC, Mr Sola Elesin; former State Chairman, Chief Jide Awe; Mr Alaba Abejide, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Reps Femi Bamisile, AVM Adeniyi Ojuawo, Sola Fatoba, Biodun Omoleye, Akin Rotimi and Akinlayo Kolawole.
Others included former Deputy Speakers, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun and Oladapo Karounwi, Hons Peter Owolabi, Olanrewaju Ibrahim, Bamidele Faparusi, Ife Arowosoge, Congressman Bimbo Daramola, Folorunso Olabode, Chief of Staff, Niyi Adebayo; Kayode Babade, Remi Oguntuase, Bimbo Ogundipe, Chief (Mrs) Ronke Okusanya; Senators Ayo Arise and Tony Adeniyi, former Rep Oyetunde Ojo.
Others present at the rally are leaders of various political parties, chairmen and members of professional groups, leaders and members of market women, representatives of ethnic groups, youth groups and religious leaders.
Rounding off the programme, Oyebanji said he was delighted to part of the success of Ekiti State as planned by the Ekiti State Creation Committee in which he served as member.
He urged residents to register in the forthcoming voters registration exercise to enable them vote.
He who praised Tinubu for awarding the contracts for all federal roads in Ekiti State, revealed that 22 Road hospital projects, scholarship scheme, agricultural schemes, social investments, among others, are ongoing while regular salary and empowerment schemes are in place to address the development needs of the people.
He said he was encouraged by Ekiti people’s call to continue to serve, stressing that he will work in humility to ensure that Ekiti people do not know poverty again.
Delivering the President’s message, he assured that Nigeria continue to make progress under Tinubu’s leadership.
Oyebanji welcomed Olujimi and other new members, assuring that the party would provide them a level-playing field to make them contribute their quota to make the party stronger.
