The Governor of Biodun Oyebanji and his predecessor, Ayodele Fayose, on Monday rallied support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the January 2027 presidential poll, citing his economic reforms and commitment to Ekiti’s development.
Speaking at a rally in Ikere-Ekiti, where former House of Representatives candidate Henrich Akomolafe defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyebanji urged residents to deliver no fewer than 600,000 votes for Tinubu in 2027.
The governor, who is the APC candidate in the June 20 governorship election, said a second term for Tinubu would consolidate ongoing economic reforms and further accelerate development in Ekiti and across the country.
“For us to show our love and support, we should target about 600,000 votes. Anything less is not good enough for Ekiti,” Oyebanji said, calling on residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and intensify grassroots mobilisation.
He also appealed for peaceful elections, stressing that his campaign had slowed in respect of the ongoing fasting season observed by Muslims and Christians.
Fayose, a PDP chieftain, declared that Tinubu and Oyebanji had already secured victory based on their performance in office. He pledged to mobilise support for the president’s second-term bid despite remaining in the opposition party.
“Ekiti people are not ingrates; we will repay them with electoral victories,” Fayose said, describing Oyebanji as a unifying leader who has strengthened Tinubu’s political base in the state.
Akomolafe attributed his defection to what he described as the developmental strides recorded under Oyebanji’s administration, saying the APC’s inclusive leadership attracted him and his supporters.
The rally, attended by top state officials and party leaders, signals intensified political mobilisation ahead of the June 20 governorship election and the 2027 presidential contest.
