Former Ekiti State Governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayodele Fayose, has declared his support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji, predicting that the incumbent will not only match but also surpass his own political record in the state.
Fayose expressed confidence that Oyebanji would achieve victory in all 177 wards of Ekiti, far exceeding the 16–0 record he himself set during his time in office. He made the remarks in Abuja, where Oyebanji submitted his nomination form ahead of the coming election.
According to him, the large number of influential figures who accompanied Oyebanji to the submission was a clear signal that the governor enjoys solid political backing. Fayose insisted that those still hoping for a change of leadership at the statehouse should accept the reality that, in his words, “there will be no vacancy in the Ekiti Government House until 2030.”
Despite clarifying that he remains a PDP member, Fayose stressed that he is firmly behind Oyebanji and also supportive of President Bola Tinubu. He maintained that his decision is personal and that he owes no one any apology for standing by both men.
Meanwhile, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary, one of the leading aspirants, Kayode Olubunmi Ojo, has faulted the Oyebanji administration over what he described as a lack of visible development in the state despite huge financial inflows.
Speaking after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, Ojo argued that Ekiti has received more than N500 billion in the last three years, yet the impact on the ground does not reflect the magnitude of resources available.
He cited figures showing that from November 2022 to June 2025, the state collected N292.24 billion in federal allocations, raised N89.6 billion through Internally Generated Revenue, and local governments received over N150 billion in addition to several federal interventions and loans.
Ojo, who has been rumored to enjoy the backing of the Presidency, dismissed such claims and insisted that his campaign is built on the promise of genuine transformation. He pledged to grant full autonomy to local governments if elected, arguing that the resources allocated to the state should be enough to deliver meaningful progress if properly managed.
