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| Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji |
In a ceremony rich with symbolism and political weight, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye, were sworn in for a second four-year term on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti. The oaths of allegiance and office were administered by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye, marking not just the continuation of an administration but a rare achievement in the state’s turbulent democratic history.
The event, themed “The Good Work Continues,” drew a high-powered gathering that underscored both national significance and regional solidarity.
Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu. He was received at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Governor Oyebanji, and a cohort of fellow governors from Kwara, Imo, Sokoto, Kebbi, Ondo, and Jigawa states. Also present were All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and other party and government figures.
Heavy security presence ensured order as supporters from across the state’s 16 local government areas filled the venue.
Oyebanji used the occasion to pledge continuity and deeper impact. He promised to build on the gains of his first term, prioritising policies that deliver tangible improvements in living standards for Ekiti residents. In the lead-up to the inauguration, he had repeatedly framed the next four years as an opportunity for greater results, attributing past progress to divine grace and federal support under Tinubu while committing to more ambitious delivery.
Breaking the “No Second Term” Curse
Since Ekiti State was created in 1996, no democratically elected governor had successfully secured consecutive terms until now. Power had rotated frequently between parties and personalities, reflecting intense local political competition, shifting alliances, and the challenges of governing a relatively small, education-oriented state with limited natural resources. Oyebanji’s re-election on June 20, 2026, ended that pattern.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner with 319,224 votes for the APC, against 40,543 for Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 12,872 for Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He swept all 16 local government areas, securing roughly 85 percent of valid votes in a contest that recorded about 384,940 accredited voters out of nearly 988,000 registered. The margin was decisive, reflecting both incumbency advantage and visible performance metrics that resonated with voters.
This outcome also reinforced APC dominance in the Southwest under Tinubu’s national leadership. It demonstrated that focused governance on infrastructure, social welfare, and economic management can overcome the historical volatility of Ekiti politics.
From Academic and Administrator to Governor
Born on December 21, 1967, in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Oyebanji is a long-serving public official whose career mirrors the state’s own evolution. He earned a BSc in Political Science from what is now Ekiti State University and an MSc in Political Science (International Relations and Strategic Studies) from the University of Ibadan. After lecturing at the University of Ado-Ekiti and working in banking (treasury management at the defunct Omega Bank), he entered agribusiness as CEO of Con Dois Farms Ltd.
His public service began early: as secretary of the committee for Ekiti State creation in the mid-1990s, special assistant and later Chief of Staff under the state’s first elected governor, Niyi Adebayo, and multiple commissioner roles and Secretary to the State Government under Kayode Fayemi. He resigned as SSG in late 2021 to contest the 2022 governorship, winning and taking office on October 16, 2022—exactly four years before Friday’s ceremony. en.wikipedia.org
Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, a princess of Ikere-Ekiti born in 1958, brings complementary grassroots strength. A former APC state women leader, entrepreneur (catering services), and public administrator with OND and HND in Public Administration, she has been described as a co-pilot in the administration, focusing on community issues, women’s mobilisation, and inclusive governance.
First-Term Record: Measurable Gains Amid Persistent Challenges
Oyebanji’s first term emphasised a “Shared Prosperity” agenda. Official figures highlight substantial progress: more than 500 kilometres of roads completed or rehabilitated; over 110 (and in some accounts 177) primary healthcare centres renovated or revitalised; hundreds of schools improved; recruitment of about 6,000 teachers; payment of significant pension and gratuity arrears (including ₦36.6 billion to over 10,000 pensioners in one reported period); sponsorship of examination fees and free JAMB forms; and youth skills training, particularly in technology and agriculture.
Internally generated revenue (IGR) rose sharply—from ₦8.7 billion in 2022 to ₦27.1 billion in 2025, with cumulative collections around ₦88.4 billion over four years and monthly averages climbing from ₦650–700 million to about ₦2.6 billion. The state ranked among the fastest-growing in IGR in the Southwest.
GDP figures cited by the administration show growth from ₦2.4 trillion in 2019 to ₦4.6 trillion in 2023, with projections approaching ₦8.8 trillion, lifting Ekiti’s national ranking. Trade and agriculture remain dominant, contributing roughly 60 percent of economic output.
Neonatal mortality reportedly declined, free health services expanded, and agricultural programmes engaged thousands of youths. The cargo airport became operational, and efforts advanced on power substations, knowledge economy projects, and an agricultural processing zone.
Yet challenges persist. Independent observations note that significant portions of the road network remain poor or untarred, informal employment dominates the labour force, and converting infrastructure gains into broad-based industrialisation and formal jobs remains unfinished business. Poverty reduction and private-sector growth will test the second term’s ambition.
Second-Term Priorities and Political Context
Ahead of inauguration, the administration outlined focus areas: healthcare, electricity, roads, water supply, agriculture, human capital development, and economic opportunities. Consultations across the three senatorial districts informed the agenda.
Oyebanji dissolved the State Executive Council and other political appointees in the days before the ceremony (retaining the SSG, Chief of Staff, and Chief Press Secretary), signalling a reset for fresh appointments.
The two-week inauguration programme included thanksgiving services, an Ekiti Future Summit, an eight-hour praise session, elderly citizens’ programmes, a State of the State Address, and a banquet—reflecting both spiritual emphasis and inclusive outreach.
Politically, the landslide victory strengthens Oyebanji’s hand while placing him under pressure to deliver faster results. President Tinubu, through statements and Shettima’s presence, endorsed the performance in infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, and rural development, urging continued inclusivity. For the APC, it consolidates Southwest control; for opposition parties, it highlights the difficulty of unseating a performing incumbent in the current national climate.
Outlook: Continuity with Urgency
Ekiti’s story has long been one of high human capital potential constrained by infrastructure deficits, limited industrial base, and political flux. Oyebanji’s re-election suggests voters prioritised stability and incremental delivery over disruption. His background as a technocrat-turned-politician positions him to pursue data-driven, continuity-focused governance.
The real test of the second term will be whether improved IGR, road networks, and social programmes translate into sustained job creation, reduced informal employment, reliable power, and measurable poverty reduction. Success could make Ekiti a model for mid-sized Nigerian states; shortfalls would reopen debates about the limits of incrementalism.
As the colourful ceremony concluded and the new term formally began, the message from Ado-Ekiti was clear: the good work is expected to continue—and accelerate. For a state that waited three decades for consecutive leadership, the next four years will determine whether the historic mandate becomes a lasting transformation.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Politics and Technology.
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