Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has declared that Ekiti State must sustain its current path of progress through political continuity, drawing a parallel with the developmental model of Lagos State since 1999.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Friday evening during a “Thank You Visit” to the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Executive Committee, Bamidele said he returned home to take part in the delegate congress ahead of the party’s governorship primary scheduled for Monday.
The Ekiti APC delegates’ congress will hold on Saturday, October 25, to elect delegates who will, in turn, affirm Governor Biodun Oyebanji as the party’s candidate for the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
The APC had earlier declared Oyebanji as its consensus candidate after the withdrawal of Mrs Atinuke Olayemi Omolayo, leaving the governor as the sole aspirant in the race. Two other aspirants, Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olawumi, were disqualified in the screening process.
Bamidele expressed optimism that the upcoming primary would be peaceful and transparent, noting that the party aimed to conduct “a rancour-free exercise where no life will be lost and no one will be molested.”
He said, “We look forward to continuity. Anyone familiar with Lagos politics understands the beauty of sustained leadership. From 1999 till now, Lagos has enjoyed consistent growth, stability, and infrastructure development because of continuity — that is what Ekiti deserves.”
While acknowledging Oyebanji’s performance in the past three years, the Senate Leader called for reconciliation within the party, stressing that unity was crucial for success in the coming election.
“I expect a season of celebration and reflection,” he said. “Our governorship election is off-season and comes up in June 2026. Before then, our primaries must hold, and as a loyal party member, I have come home to contest as a delegate.”
Bamidele explained that the party followed due process in arriving at its consensus candidate, noting that Oyebanji’s endorsement came after other cleared aspirants voluntarily stepped down.
“The party constitution provides for consensus, but it also mandates an affirmation process,” he added. “That’s why our congresses are holding today at the ward level. I must contest in my ward to qualify as a delegate for Monday’s affirmation.”
Reacting to reports of protests at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, Bamidele downplayed the incident, describing it as part of the democratic process.
“For as long as one person in Nigeria can be mobilised to protest over what they know nothing about, we still have work to do,” he said. “We will continue to engage, reconcile, and strengthen our party’s unity.”
Bamidele praised Governor Oyebanji for managing the state’s limited resources effectively, saying that his developmental record speaks for itself.
“This is not Rivers or Akwa Ibom; this is Ekiti — a state with very modest revenue,” he said. “Yet, if you travel across our communities, you will see tangible projects and results. Unless we expect a magician as governor, it’s clear the man has performed creditably.”
He concluded that his support for Oyebanji’s re-election bid was based on conviction rather than coercion, describing the governor’s leadership as “pragmatic, transparent, and result-oriented.”
