Ekiti State Governor and All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on Friday inaugurated 5,000 canvassers for his re-election as well as that of President Bola Tinubu.
The 5,000 Person-to-Person Community Canvassers for Biodun Oyebanji/Monisade Afuye and President Bola Tinubu were put together by the Director-General, Bureau of Community Communications, Mrs Mary Oso-Omotosho.
Oyebanji, who expressed appreciation to the canvassers for volunteering to secure voters for his re-election as well as that of the President, urged peaceful conduct by mobilisers, party members and opposition members ahead of the June 20 governorship election.
The governor, while seeking Ekiti people’s votes for the APC in the 2026 governorship and 2027 general elections, said, “The only way to say thank you to President Tinubu for all he has been doing for Ekiti State is to come out en masse to vote on June 20 and test the microphone.”
Oyebanji expressed confidence that the APC would win the Ekiti governorship election, saying the party was interested in a huge vote margin, adding that such would count for hope-raising in the 2027 polls.
“For the presidential election, we don’t want to leave anyone behind. I will hold you to your promises, and it is doable.
“As you continue with this evangelism, please be at peace with everybody. We are one in Ekiti State; we should not allow politics to divide us. I don’t want you to fight with anyone,” he said.
The governor also appealed to contestants and opposition party members to play the game with decency, adding, “Let everybody go and sell themselves and their manifestoes to the people of Ekiti State and let the people make their choice. No ambition is worth the blood of any citizen.”
He also appealed to eligible residents to seize the opportunity of the ongoing voter registration exercise of the Independent National Electoral Commission to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Card to participate in the election.
The DG, Bureau of Community Communications, Oso-Omotosho, said the canvassers volunteered by conviction following Oyebanji’s landmark achievements, adding that the initiative had its roots in genuine grassroots support reflective of the people’s enthusiasm for community service and collective progress.
She said, “The canvassers are 5,000 and their assignment is simple but powerful. They are to bring and deliver at least 25 voters each.
“Overall, this group alone is poised to deliver 125,000 votes in the next election for the governor. We have also created a dedicated vote-tracking website that will enable us to track, monitor and ascertain the numbers.
“These canvassers are ordinary citizens from our communities, neighbourhoods, places of worship, markets and fields, drawn across our grassroots structures in the state.
“They are not here as political office-seekers; they are here door-to-door, house-to-house, person-to-person to canvass support for continuity and progress. They have seen your positive impact and have decided to go into the streets.”
Oso-Omotosho told the governor, “What we celebrate today in Ekiti is not merely governance. We celebrate a rare kind of leadership that you exude and exemplify. You do not only run an inclusive government, you run a humanitarian government.”
Dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye; the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Niyi Adebayo; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Jide Awe.
The event was also graced by representatives of the Christian community, Islamic community, indigenous groups, youths, market women, artisans and the Organised Private Sector, among others.
