The palpable tension of likely election defeat ahead of the APC governorship election in Ekiti State by the incumbent Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has led to some desperate moves by the Governor and his cohorts in an attempt to subjugate and coerce APC State, LGA, Ward executive members and political appointees in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in May announced July 20 and August 8, 2026, as the governorship election dates in Ekiti and Osun States, respectively. Following the announcement, Governor Oyebanji has embarked on various endorsements while the government continues to crack down on some APC leaders who are supporters of the current Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Mr. Kayode Ojo.
In a trending video, Governor Oyebanji was seen threatening APC State, LGA, Ward executive members and political appointees in the state as some political thugs loyal to the Governor continue to arrest, harass, intimidate, prosecute, and persecute APC members who are supporters of Engr. Kayode Ojo across the state.
Oyebanji said, “I want to see the Local Government, I want to see the local government Chairman and ward Chairman that will open their door and office to these people. If they are popular, they should go to another party and contest the election.”
In a visibly shaken state, the Governor said, “We need to seize the social media space.” On his appointees who are on social media platforms, the Governor said, “I’m marking them one by one. I am not going to talk now, but be assured that those of you who are on platforms where they are dragging us and kept quiet, and you are collecting a salary from this administration, we will come back to you at the appropriate time.”
The statement of Governor Oyebanji has continued to generate reactions from within and outside the country. Some said, has Oyebanji forgotten that this is a democracy where freedom of speech is guaranteed, a free press state guaranteed by the freedom of information bill, and this is an era of citizen journalism?
While others fumed that, has Mr. Governor turned Ekiti into his personal enterprise where salaries being paid to workers are a weapon for loyalty, even when the Governor has not performed? Are these Appointees his personal staff or working for the state? Has Mr. Governor forgotten that this is a democracy and that the people voted him in and that these people can demand accountability at any time?
These are some questions begging for answers.
Governor Oyebanji is being accused by the electorate, especially APC members, of poor performance despite the huge resources resulting from a skyrocketing increase in federal allocations following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
There has been an increase in infrastructure deficit across all sectors of the state economy, including roads, water, health, education, and agriculture, while business owners are gasping over multiple taxes under Governor Oyebanji.
It would be recalled that the Governor had, on August 11, 2025, sacked more than 90 per cent of his cabinet members on what some observers described as a fear of the unknown and political tension of a likely shift of loyalty to another aspirant by some of the sacked cabinet members.
Also, more than ten political appointees, including Mr. Wale Alade-Oba, Mr. Iseal Adesokan, and Mr. Dada Abiodun John, among others, had earlier tendered their resignation letters on what some of them called personal reasons, while others had accused the Governor of running a directionless, exclusive and deceitful administration with majority APC members being sidelined and oppressed.
