No fewer than 885 ward delegates have been elected in Ekiti State to participate in today’s governorship primaries election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nigerian Tribune observed that five delegates in each of the 177 wards across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state were elected during the ward delegates’ congress held on Saturday.

The 885 winners are expected to elect and affirm Governor Biodun Oyebanji today at the popular Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital as the consensus candidate of the APC for the June 20, 2026 governorship election in the state.

It would be recalled that four aspirants obtained the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms but only Governor Oyebanji will be facing the delegates in the affirmation process.

Two aspirants, namely, Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olawumi, were disqualified, while Mrs Oluremi Omolayo announced her withdrawal from the race, leaving governor Oyebanji as the only aspirant cleared going into the race.

The National Working Committee (NWC) had in a letter addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) communicated the development to the commission on the affirmation process of Governor Oyebanji as the consensus candidate.

Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Eribo, told Nigerian Tribune warned trouble makers not to approach the arena, adding that adequate deployment of operatives had been made to ensire hitch free exercise.

Speaking through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Abutu Sunday said, “All is set, adequate deployment has been made, and we expect every citizen to be law-abiding. Any act that could lead to a breach of peace will not be tolerated.

On his part, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi said officials of the Independent National Electoral (Commission) will be deployed to monitor and observe the consensus exercise.

“Yes, it is our mandate to monitor Party Primaries,” the REC said.

In a chat with our correspondent, he advised the APC and other political parties to adhere strictly with the Electoral Act and the INEC guidelines in conducting their governorship primaries to pick candidates for the next year’s election.

The chairman of the ward delegate congress committee, Jaret Tenebe, told Nigerian Tribune that the delegate congress election was conducted peacefully devoid of any rancour in line with the guidelines and constitution of the APC.

Tenebe, who is the Edo State APC chairman, revealed that the 885 elected delegates have been given the clean bill to participate and affirm Governor Oyebanji as the APC candidate for the next year’s election.

He lauded the efforts and commitment of the governor in the last three years of his administration, noting that his achievements and giant strides have made the APC more popular and acceptable in the State.

He said, “In most of the places we visited, it was affirmation not a real contest and that will show you the unity and cohesion of the party in the state. If you have a governor (Biodun Oyebanji) that is peaceful and loves unity, you will always see that. We were impressed with what we saw and the turnout was very large.

“From what we have seen so far, I am sure they will go there on Monday (Today) to affirm the governor because if you call APC in this state, they will tell you BAO – Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, that means he has a great followership and liked by the people of the state and I am convinced he would be affirmed on Monday.”

Speaking, Governor Oyebanji said his government in the last three years has made a positive impact in the lives of the citizens in the state through human capital and infrastructural development in line with his shared prosperity agenda of the administration.

The governor further noted that the performance of his administration across various sectors has made the party more attractive to the people of the state.

Oyebanji said, “You can see that our members are happy and united in one accord and in the last three years that we have been at the saddle, we have made the party more attractive to people, we have had a lot of members coming in from other parties to join APC because we have been able to deliver on various deliverables.”

Expressing optimism of winning overwhelmingly and resoundingly in the June 20, 2026 election, the governor added that, “ I can assure you with God being on our side, the record we want to break by the grace of God, June 20 next year is the record of winning 177 wards, it has never happened in the history of this State before but June 20 next year, God being on our side, APC will win convincingly all the 177 wards.”

On his part, the Senate leader and lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed delight over the consensus arrangement in selecting the party’s candidate, adding that Governor Oyebanji in the last three years has demonstrated capacity and performed well in office.

Bamidele who noted that stakeholders› and party delegates are looking forward to an affirmation exercise of Governor Oyebanji devoid of chaos, explained that reconciliation efforts will be activated for all aggrieved members to be brought into the fold ahead of next year’s poll.

According to Bamidele, “We are looking forward to a governorship primary devoid of rancour where no man will be molested, where no one will lose his life by the grace of God, and where there will be no spilling of blood.

“Well, from the party, I expect a celebration of life that all of us are alive to witness yet another season of election. As you know, the Ekiti gubernatorial election is an off-season election. It will be held in June 2026, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission timetable.

“Of course, we expect continuity. Anyone familiar with what has happened in Lagos State between 1999 and now will understand the beauty and progress that come with continuity – the harvest of development, economic growth and infrastructure advancement that follow a stable leadership trajectory.

“This is not Rivers State. This is not Akwa Ibom State. This is Ekiti, a state with limited resources. Go around the state, invite our Ekiti people to come home and see what the government has done.

“Invite those who live outside Ekiti but criticise this administration, challenge them to come and see the developments on the ground. Let them go around and see what is happening with the limited resources of this state. Unless we are looking for a magician as governor, I think the record speaks for itself.

“As far as I’m concerned, I am where I am, not by coercion. I don’t expect magic from the governor, but I know that given the limited resources, our governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has done well.”

Meanwhile, Kogi State governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, has assured of a fair, transparent and credible process in the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State.

The Governor, in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media, Honourable Ismaila Isah, promised to be fair to all stakeholders and ensure that the exercise reflects unity, peace, and internal democracy within the party.

Governor Ododo emphasised that his commitment is to oversee a process that will be acceptable to all stakeholders and party members, noting that the committee under his leadership will uphold the integrity and democratic values of the APC.

He assured that every stakeholder will be carried along in line with the guidelines of the party to produce a flag bearer for the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State.

Governor Ododo, who chaired the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee in Ondo State in April 2024, expressed confidence that the Ekiti exercise will be peaceful and transparent in line with procedures for internal party democracy.

He stated that fairness and inclusiveness remain the guiding principles of the committee, and reiterated his readiness to deliver a process that will strengthen the unity of the party in Ekiti State.

Recalled, the APC, in a letter signed by its National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, announced the appointment of Governor Ododo as Chairman of the Committee to oversee the consensus mode of the governorship primary in Ekiti state.

According to the letter addressed to the APC Chairman in Ekiti State, Honourable Sola Elesin, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was appointed Deputy Chairman, while Rt. Honourable Taiwo Sunmonu will serve as Secretary.

Other members of the committee include Iyom Nikky Ejezie, Honourable Elis Ihijator Abraham, Hon. Rufus Bature, Hon. Latif Ibirogba, Dr. Chibuzor Nduaguba Agu, Chief Dr. Gabriel Oyibode, Chief Hope Dike, and Engr. Shehu Umaru Dange.

The APC consensus governorship primary election in Ekiti State is scheduled for Monday, October 27, 2025. (Tribune)