Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria | September 22, 2025
With less than a year to the July 20, 2026 Ekiti governorship election, incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji has intensified efforts to win public support, rolling out a showcase of flagship road projects, agricultural clusters, and social intervention schemes across the state.
The governor, who is seeking to consolidate his administration’s achievements, has highlighted investments in infrastructure and agriculture as part of his strategy to deepen economic growth and improve livelihoods. He has also pointed to social welfare programmes targeted at vulnerable households as evidence of his government’s people-centered approach.
However, Oyebanji’s campaign-style messaging has attracted mixed reactions. While loyalists within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have lauded his performance, critics within the party and opposition camps argue that his record is overstated. They accuse him of relying on incomplete or superficial projects while failing to address lingering challenges in education, healthcare, and job creation.
Political observers note that the coming months will be crucial as Oyebanji navigates both intra-party dynamics and opposition pushback. His ability to secure a second mandate, they say, will depend not only on his project delivery but also on how he manages growing dissent within the APC and counters opposition narratives.
As Ekiti prepares for the high-stakes poll, analysts predict a fiercely contested race that will test Oyebanji’s popularity, the ruling party’s cohesion, and the resilience of the state’s democratic institutions.
