The build-up to the June 2026 Ekiti governorship election is gathering momentum, with the fate of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his strong challenger, Kayode Ojo, to be decided at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary scheduled for next month. Analysts believe the outcome of this intra-party battle could ultimately shape the direction of the general election, SEYE OLUMIDE reports.
As Ekiti State inches towards the 2026 governorship election, the political temperature in Nigeria’s smallest state by landmass is rising. Known for its strong intellectual tradition, cultural pride, and vibrant political history, Ekiti has often been described as a land where politics is played with uncommon passion.
Now, less than a year to the governorship race, the state finds itself at a crossroads. The administration of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is facing mounting criticism over governance style and performance, while disenchanted voices within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are increasingly rallying around Mr Kayode Olubunmi Ojo, a businessman, technocrat, and former governorship aspirant, who is positioning himself as a reform-minded alternative.
The 2026 poll promises to be more than a contest between individuals; it will be a referendum on Oyebanji’s stewardship, the APC’s internal cohesion, and the direction of Ekiti’s political and economic future.
APC’s fractured house
Since its formation, the APC has maintained a strong foothold in Ekiti, successfully winning power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2018 with Kayode Fayemi’s second coming as governor. In 2022, the party consolidated its grip through Oyebanji’s election, benefiting from Fayemi’s support and federal backing. But less than four years later, the cracks within the party are becoming visible, even when it looks as if the incumbent governor is playing a unifying role.
Party insiders allege that Governor Oyebanji has increasingly alienated the very grassroots structures that delivered his victory. Allegations abound that loyal APC ward leaders, youth organisers, and campaign coordinators have been sidelined, while plum positions in government have gone to individuals with little or no history in the party. Over one hundred appointments, from commissioners to local government chairmen, are said to have been given to opposition figures, leaving party stalwarts frustrated.
Worried party members say this sense of betrayal has weakened morale. Once vibrant ward meetings are reportedly irregular, with some community mobilisers openly expressing regret. Verified membership figures of the APC in Ekiti have allegedly dropped from 186,000 to 114,000, fuelling suspicion of deliberate manipulation to shrink the base of the party in anticipation of a potential defection should Oyebanji lose the primaries.
“The APC is not the same party we worked for in 2022,” lamented a ward leader in Ikole. “People who fought for the victory are being abandoned, while strangers enjoy the rewards. That is why many are now looking towards Ojo.”
Oyebanji under scrutiny
Oyebanji’s administration has also come under scrutiny for what critics describe as an underwhelming performance. Infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation remain pressing concerns. While some state projects have been undertaken, opposition voices argue that the pace and scope fall short of expectations.
One particularly contentious issue is the condition of federal roads in the state. Governor Oyebanji has consistently blamed Abuja for delays, pointing to the bureaucracy that slows federal contracts. But critics note that when it served his political interest, billions were found to rehabilitate the Ado–Ifaki axis, while other critical routes across the state were left untouched.
Civil society groups draw comparisons with Ogun State, where Governor Dapo Abiodun has reportedly committed nearly ₦100 billion to federal road rehabilitation despite similar jurisdictional hurdles. “Leadership is about finding solutions, not giving excuses,” a civic activist in Ado-Ekiti remarked.
The governor’s response to public complaints has sometimes drawn ridicule. At one point, the governor was said to have designated alternative routes for motorists instead of providing palliatives on the main highways. Critics saw this as trivialising citizens’ suffering, even as Abuja had provided financial interventions to support Ekiti’s infrastructure.
Beyond roads, Oyebanji’s critics also expressed worry that state resources are being diverted into political endorsements and rallies, describing them as “popularity jamborees” designed to shore up his image. Billions, they claim, have been spent on such spectacles while clinics remain unequipped, schools dilapidated, and communities underserved.
But supporters of the governor dismiss the concerns, saying Oyebanji inherited financial constraints and has made efforts in youth empowerment, women’s inclusion, and community development. Still, the chorus of dissatisfaction, even from within the APC, has grown louder.
Against the backdrop of the sentiment against the incumbent, a governorship aspirant, Ojo, is gaining traction. He contested the APC governorship primary in 2022 but lost to Oyebanji. Rather than retreat, he has since consolidated his profile, both within Ekiti and nationally.
As Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ojo facilitated emergency repairs on the Ifaki–Ikole road when state authorities hesitated, a move that endeared him to students, staff, and residents. His intervention, achieved without the resources of the government, is often cited by supporters as proof of his problem-solving disposition.
More significantly, his tenure as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, won him national respect. Faced with a four-year leadership vacuum at the institution due to the absence of a substantive Vice-Chancellor, Ojo led strategic consultations that eventually produced a transparent appointment process. The resolution stabilised the university, boosting staff morale and academic calendars. That achievement, allies say, reflects his capacity for consensus-building and principled leadership.
Ojo’s rising profile has been amplified by his strategic manifesto for Ekiti, which he has framed as a 10-year master plan for transformation.
Oyebanji’s achievements and Ojo’s blueprint for Ekiti
Central to Ojo’s pitch is a broad, multi-sectoral vision. His proposals range from ambitious infrastructure projects to human capital reforms, agriculture, industry, and digital innovation. Among them:
Infrastructure and Trade: A four-lane expressway linking Ekiti directly to Lagos ports, alongside the development of a dry port to make the state a logistics hub.
Agriculture: Establishment of agro-industrial parks, cold-chain logistics, and smart irrigation systems to transform subsistence farming into commercial agribusiness.
Education: Digital classrooms, research-industry partnerships, adult literacy programmes, and vocational training for 100,000 youths. Technology: A “Knowledge and Innovation Corridor” featuring incubators, tech hubs, and venture studios, with the aim of positioning Ekiti as a software export destination.
Tourism and Faith Economy: The “Jesus City” development concept at Erio Mountain, envisioned as a pilgrimage and cultural tourism hub. Healthcare: Upgraded hospitals, digital patient management systems, and a universal health insurance scheme.
Security: A digital surveillance network and biometric identity system designed to modernise crime prevention and governance data. Ojo’s team projects that the plan could generate one million jobs, raise internally generated revenue by 50 per cent, and reduce poverty by 40 per cent within a decade.
Meanwhile, the incumbent governor will go into the polls on the strength of his achievements in the last three years. Since assuming office in October 2022, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has pursued reforms across infrastructure, education, economy, and governance.
He reconnected long-disconnected communities to power, launched an Independent Power Project, and advanced the Ekiti Knowledge Zone with AfDB support and Free Trade Zone status. Over 2,000 teachers were recruited, schools renovated, and exam fees cleared for students. His administration prioritised MSMEs through grants, cooperative funds, and women’s credit schemes, while boosting healthcare, security, and inclusive governance. Roads, hospitals, and rural electrification projects have progressed, alongside fiscal prudence, debt reduction, and improved transparency, earning him national recognition.
Ojo, Oyebanji: The contest ahead
The contrast between Oyebanji’s record and Ojo’s promises is shaping the contours of the coming election. While Oyebanji retains the power of incumbency and an established political network, Ojo is increasingly seen as the rallying point for disaffected party members and civil society groups who want change.
However, Ekiti’s political history warns against assuming linear outcomes. The state is famous for its electoral unpredictability. Since its creation in 1996, the governorship has oscillated between the PDP and APC, with incumbents facing strong challenges. Federal influence has also played a decisive role, with Abuja often tilting the balance.
In 2026, the APC’s internal dynamics will be critical. If Oyebanji secures the ticket, his record will face direct scrutiny at the polls. If Ojo or another challenger prevails, the party may struggle to mend fences in time for a united campaign. A fractured APC could open opportunities for opposition parties such as the PDP or even rising third forces like the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), both of which have been active in Ekiti.
For ordinary Ekiti citizens, the calculus is simpler. The demands are for better roads, functional schools, reliable healthcare, and jobs. Years of unfulfilled promises have deepened disillusionment, leading to low voter turnout in previous elections. Analysts warn that unless 2026 offers a credible choice, voter apathy may worsen.
“People in Ekiti are tired of politics as usual,” said a university lecturer in Ado-Ekiti. “They want a governor who can fix roads, revive schools, and attract investment. It is not about slogans anymore; it is about delivery.”
Federal factor and President Tinubu’s equation
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s influence cannot be ignored in the coming race. As leader of the APC and a political figure with strong roots in the Southwest, his disposition will shape the outcome of the primaries and beyond. Ojo’s allies often cite his alignment with Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” as evidence that his candidacy will enjoy federal blessing. Oyebanji, however, has the advantage of incumbency and existing relationships within the party hierarchy.
How Tinubu balances these competing forces, incumbent loyalty versus reformist appeal, will likely prove decisive in shaping the APC’s ticket and prospects in Ekiti.
The governorship election will not only determine who occupies Oke Ayoba House but also the trajectory of the state for the next decade.
Will the APC double down on continuity with Oyebanji, banking on the machinery of incumbency to weather discontent? Or will the party embrace a reformist alternative like Ojo, hoping to revitalise its structures and restore voter confidence?
Beyond party politics, the election represents an opportunity for Ekiti to redefine its governance priorities. With rising unemployment, infrastructure deficits, and disenchanted youth, the stakes could not be higher.
As history has shown, Ekiti voters are discerning and unafraid to upset predictions. The battle for 2026, therefore, promises to be one of the most fiercely contested in the state’s history—an election that will test not only the APC’s internal cohesion but also the resilience of Ekiti’s democratic spirit.
APC Primaries: Battle of Influence
The APC primary election will be the first real test of strength between Oyebanji and Ojo. As the incumbent, Oyebanji controls state structures, enjoys support from past governors, and retains access to federal leverage.
But Ojo is banking on the discontent within the party’s base. His ability to mobilise grassroots delegates disillusioned with the governor could tilt the balance. APC insiders acknowledge that while Oyebanji has the edge, Ojo’s candidacy represents the most credible internal challenge to the governor’s bid for a second term.
Should Oyebanji secure the ticket, the APC will need to address whether the fractures within its ranks can be healed in time for the general election.
Where is the PDP?
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once formidable in Ekiti, appears weakened by internal divisions and leadership struggles. While it may field a candidate, analysts argue that its chances in 2026 largely depend on APC implosions. For now, the real contest seems to lie within the APC itself, between Oyebanji and Ojo.
This dynamic positions Ojo uniquely: if denied the APC ticket, speculations abound about whether he could pursue his ambition on another platform, such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), though he has given no formal indication of such a move.
Beyond party structures, Ekiti’s active civil society, youth groups, and women’s associations are increasingly vocal. Many express frustration at money politics and the recycling of elites. Ojo’s reformist appeal could resonate here, but his ability to convert admiration into votes remains uncertain. Oyebanji, meanwhile, leverages incumbency to extend patronage to influential groups, maintaining loyalty despite criticisms.
