Governor Biodun Oyebanji has been unanimously affirmed as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election by 885 elected party delegates.
The special nomination congress, held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, was a peaceful and orderly exercise supervised by Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, who chaired the committee for the event.
Governor Oyebanji arrived around 10:40 a.m. to a warm welcome from delegates.
In his opening remarks, Governor Ododo stressed the party’s commitment to upholding all legal and procedural requirements in confirming a consensus candidate.
Mrs. Atinuke Omolayo formally withdrew from the race, after which a motion for Oyebanji’s affirmation was moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and seconded by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye.
A voice vote by the delegates produced a unanimous “yes,” officially endorsing Oyebanji.
This special nomination congress marked a historic first for Ekiti State.
Ahead of the congress, two aspirants were disqualified for failing to meet party guidelines, while another voluntarily stepped aside for the incumbent governor.
In his acceptance speech, Oyebanji thanked President Bola Tinubu for his continued support and affirmed that the endorsement reflected the popular will of APC members across the state.
He expressed readiness to carry the party’s flag in the upcoming election.
Celebrating his historic status as the first consensus candidate of a ruling party in Ekiti, Oyebanji extended a hand of fellowship to Kayode Ojo, one of the disqualified aspirants, urging him to join in the collective effort to maintain Ekiti’s progress.
