Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has pledged to deliver 90 per cent of the state’s votes to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, citing growing political cooperation among prominent leaders across party lines.
Oyebanji made the declaration on Thursday during an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti.
The gathering attracted several former governors, including Ayodele Fayose, Kayode Fayemi, Niyi Adebayo and Segun Oni, who publicly declared their support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Former governorship candidates Dr Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alade Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party and Joseph Ayominde of the All Progressives Movement also pledged their support.
Addressing supporters, Oyebanji described Ekiti as politically united, maintaining that the state’s recent governorship election reflected public confidence in his administration.
He said the APC secured 87.5 per cent of the votes in the election, attributing the outcome partly to the support the state had received from the Federal Government.
According to the governor, Tinubu’s administration had demonstrated a commitment to Ekiti through increased federal presence and infrastructure development.
“I stand to be corrected, no President has ever shown the same level of support to Ekiti State since its creation 30 years ago as President Tinubu has done,” he stated.
Oyebanji maintained that the state would build on its previous electoral performance when Nigerians return to the polls on January 16, 2027.
“There’s no problem in Ekiti State. We have made up our minds that come January 16, we are going to double the tally of what we did in June this year,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who also addressed the rally, defended the administration’s economic reforms, acknowledging that Nigerians had endured difficulties arising from government policies.
He expressed confidence that the benefits of those decisions would become more visible as implementation continued.
Shettima also announced the inauguration of an Information and Communication Technology experience centre at Ekiti State University, established with support from the state government.
He reiterated the administration’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities and reducing financial barriers for students.
Similarly, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda highlighted the administration’s tax reforms and educational interventions.
He explained that the revised tax framework was intended to ease financial pressures on low-income earners and small businesses through exemptions for those below specified income thresholds.
Yilwatda also commended the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, saying the initiative had improved access to tertiary education through student loans and monthly upkeep allowances.
The rally brought together APC members and politicians from other parties, with the participants expressing support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Oyebanji maintained that the cooperation among political stakeholders would strengthen the ruling party’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the presidential election.
Ezeana Emmanuel
