WorldStage– President Bola Tinubu has urged the people of Ekiti to re-elect Gov. Biodun Oyebanji in Saturday’s governorship election, saying has delivered on his mandate.
Tinubu made the appeal on Tuesday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti, in support of Oyebanji’s second term bid.
Represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the President said Oyebanji had demonstrated through his policies and programmes that governance should be centred on the welfare and aspirations of the people.
He said the governor had remained connected with all segments of society, including farmers, traders, students and traditional rulers, while maintaining humility and inclusiveness in leadership.
According to him, Oyebanji’s performance in office and his cordial relationship with political leaders across party lines have contributed significantly to peace, stability and development in the state.
“I came to Ekiti recently to inaugurate projects and I saw one of the longest flyovers in the country. This is a testimony that the governor has served the people well.
“He came prepared for governance, respected leaders and traditional rulers and has kept the machinery of government focused on the people,” he said.
The President urged voters to turn out in large numbers on Saturday and re-elect the governor to enable him consolidate on the achievements recorded during his first term in office.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described Oyebanji as a peaceful, humble and gender-friendly governor whose achievements had earned him widespread acceptance among the people.
Akpabio said the governor’s performance in governance and his cordial relationship with the legislature had distinguished him among his peers across the country.
Also speaking, Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council and Governor of Kaduna State, Sen. Uba Sani, said Oyebanji had recorded remarkable achievements in education, workers’ welfare, transportation, road infrastructure and human capital development.
Sani expressed confidence that the APC would secure victory in the election, urging residents to support the governor’s re-election bid.
Similarly, Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, said governors elected on the platform of the party were in Ekiti to demonstrate solidarity with Oyebanji because of his performance and popularity among the people.
He said the governor’s acceptability across political, religious and social divides was an indication that he had earned the trust of the electorate.
The National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party was confident of victory because of the governor’s achievements and strong connection with the grassroots.
Speaking, Oyebanji said he was seeking re-election on the strength of his performance and the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state.
The governor said his administration had remained faithful to the promises made during the 2022 electioneering and assured residents that a second term would bring greater development to the state.
Also at the rally, former Gov. Ayodele Fayose reaffirmed his support for Oyebanji, describing him as a unifying leader who had succeeded in bringing together political leaders across the state.
Fayose expressed confidence that the governor would secure victory in Saturday’s election and urged him to sustain his inclusive style of governance.
Earlier, Shettima met with members of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers where he solicited their support for Oyebanji’s re-election.
He said the presence of senior government officials, APC governors, ministers, lawmakers and party leaders at the rally underscored the importance attached to the election by the party.
The vice president also urged the traditional rulers to continue supporting security agencies through intelligence gathering and community engagement to ensure a peaceful election.
