Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has declared that the state is capable of delivering between 600,000 and 700,000 votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election, expressing confidence that growing support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will significantly boost the President’s re-election bid.
The governor made the projection on Wednesday while speaking with journalists after meeting President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Oyebanji said the APC’s electoral performance in Ekiti has recorded steady growth over the past four years, noting that the party secured about 187,000 votes in the 2022 governorship election, increased the figure to about 210,000 in the 2023 presidential election, and recently polled approximately 318,000 votes in the 2026 governorship election. According to him, the upward trend demonstrates that achieving between 600,000 and 700,000 votes for Tinubu in 2027 is realistic.
The governor attributed his historic re-election victory to divine grace and the support of President Tinubu, stressing that the President’s backing enabled his administration to fulfil campaign promises made to the people of Ekiti State. He described the two factors as the foundation of the overwhelming mandate he received at the polls, making him the first governor in the state’s history to secure such a re-election victory.
Turning to governance, Oyebanji promised that his second term would prioritise unity and inclusive leadership, insisting that political competition had ended with the declaration of the election results. He revealed that he had already reached out to the major opposition candidates by telephone and personally visited one of them alongside the chairman of his campaign council, while planning to meet the other upon returning to Ekiti.
The governor said the opposition candidates had assured him of their cooperation, adding that he would welcome their ideas and constructive advice in advancing the state’s development agenda. He maintained that governance should now take precedence over partisan politics, stressing that collaboration among political actors would strengthen service delivery and accelerate development across the state.
Speaking on his administration’s development agenda, Oyebanji reaffirmed his commitment to implementing Ekiti State’s 30-year development plan, describing it as the blueprint that guides government policies, annual budgets and programme execution. He assured residents that his administration would remain focused on the long-term vision rather than introducing policies that depart from the established development framework.
On national security, the governor endorsed the proposed establishment of state police, arguing that decentralising policing would strengthen security across the country. He disclosed that the National Economic Council had already considered the proposal and that governors had largely expressed support for the initiative pending the completion of the constitutional amendment process.
Oyebanji added that state governments were prepared to grant speedy approval to the constitutional amendments once they reached the various State Houses of Assembly, saying governors were ready to commence implementation immediately. He expressed optimism that the creation of state police would improve security management and enhance the ability of states to respond more effectively to local security challenges.
