Ekiti TUC Expresses Hope in Achieving Better Nigeria, Calls for Sober Reflection on Anniversary

The Trade Union Congress, TUC Ekiti State council has joined in the celebration of Nigeria's 65th Independence Anniversary and 29 years of the creation of Ekiti State.

The TUC in a statement by its Chairperson, Dr Omotola Farotimi noted that the anniversary was a time for sober reflection and a period to fashion out a way forward for Nigeria and Ekiti State.

"These past 65 years have presented us with many things to reflect on both on positive and negative sides. We experienced the civil war,  military regimes that came with so many challenges, religion and communal clashes which had devastating effects on our economic and political life as a people.

"The roads have not been rosy but neither Nigeria or Ekiti are stagnant, both of them are making progress so we should be grateful to God for how far He has led us".

Dr Farotimi stressed the need for leaders both at the National and Ekiti State to prioritize good living standards for citizens so that the country can be better for all.

The Ekiti State TUC Chairperson while celebrating workers in Ekiti State on the occasion assured that better days lie ahead for the labour force in the state.

"The objective of this present TUC Executive in Ekiti State is to ensure that the lives of our members become better . This is the oath we took on assumption of office and we will stand by it".

Dr Farotimi congratulated Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi on the State's 29th birthday expressing hope that the Governor's quality leadership would further propel Ekiti State to greatness and economic stability.

COM. FAROTIMI OMOTOLA PhD

TUC Chairman, Ekiti State Council

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BAO Is One of Our Shining Lights, Sanwo-Olu Declares at Ekiti Ring Road Commissioning

NaijaPulse 

October 23, 2025 

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, as “one of the shining lights and leading examples of purposeful governance in Nigeria.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this in Ado-Ekiti during the official commissioning of the 17.5-kilometre Ekiti Ring Road Phase I, a landmark infrastructure project executed by the Oyebanji administration to decongest traffic within the capital and open up new economic corridors.

Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu praised Oyebanji’s humility, discipline, and results-oriented leadership style, noting that his approach to governance reflects competence, compassion, and accountability.

“Your governor is one of our shining lights. Your governor is one of our leading lights. He is not only a man of humility, he is a man that once you give him an assignment, he executes it with precision, with commitment and with a sense of purpose,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu added that Ekiti State under Oyebanji has become a model of responsive and inclusive governance, where the dividends of democracy are “visible, tangible, and measurable.”

“We have listened to the people of Ekiti State and we have seen that indeed through you, purposeful governance is happening in Ekiti State. The real dividends of democracy are touching the nooks and crannies of the state. Your people can feel, see, and touch it. It is not governance that is in the air; it is governance they can demonstrate,” he added.

The Lagos Governor further lauded Oyebanji for aligning closely with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that effective leadership at the sub-national level is key to national progress.

“BAO, you are an embodiment of what the President has asked all of us to go and do. Abuja cannot be everywhere. The sub-nationals are the real sense in which the Renewed Hope Agenda can be implemented,” Sanwo-Olu concluded.

The commissioning ceremony, graced by top government officials, traditional rulers, political leaders, and members of the Ekiti public, affirmed Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to infrastructure expansion, economic growth, and the overall development of Ekiti State.

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BREAKING: APC Adopts Oyebanji as Consensus Candidate for 2025 Governorship Election in Ekiti

NaijaPulse 

October 14, 2025

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially adopted Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as its consensus candidate for the 2025 Ekiti State Governorship Election.

In a letter dated 13th October 2025 and addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC formally notified the electoral body of a change in the mode of primary election from direct primaries to consensus arrangement, in line with the provisions of Section 84(9) and (11) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

According to the party, only two aspirants were cleared to contest the primary; Governor Oyebanji and Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo. However, Mrs. Omolayo voluntarily withdrew from the race and endorsed Governor Oyebanji as the consensus candidate of the party.

“The Party has received a letter from Mrs. Omolayo conveying her voluntary decision to withdraw from the contest and expressing her endorsement of Governor Oyebanji as the consensus candidate,” the letter signed by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, read in part.

Following her withdrawal, the APC said it was compelled by law to switch from a direct primary to a consensus mode, as stipulated by the Electoral Act.

The party has also scheduled a Special Nomination Congress to ratify Governor Oyebanji’s candidacy on Monday, 27th October 2025, at the Ekiti State Pavilion, New Iyin Road, Ado Ekiti.

INEC has been formally invited to monitor the exercise, which will affirm Oyebanji as the sole aspirant and flag bearer of the APC for the 2025 Ekiti Governorship Election.

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Kayode Ojo Seems Bewitched, Keeps Attacking His Own Party ~ Dr. Tai Oguntayo

...Reaffirms that Ekiti APC primary will hold across 177 wards under Option A4 direct system

Ado Ekiti

October 9, 2025

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Tai Oguntayo, has described as strange and self-destructive the continuous attack by an aspirant, Engr. Kayode Ojo, against the very party on whose platform he intends to contest the forthcoming governorship primary election.

Featuring on Ṣé Ẹ Mọ́ BAO Dáadáa, a radio programme on Our People’s FM, Ado Ekiti, Dr. Oguntayo said it is unheard of for a member of a political party to openly condemn the same platform that gave him political relevance.

“I have never heard of such. Like someone under a spell, Kayode Ojo has been consistently attacking the APC, the same party he wants to contest under,” Oguntayo said.

He recalled that Ojo had written several petitions against the APC in the state and had even written petitions against the National Working Committee (NWC), accusing them of bias.

“He has petitioned the state chapter, he has petitioned the NWC, he has accused the party of bias, everything seems to be working against him because his approach is wrong. You don’t destroy the house you intend to live in,” he added.

Dr. Oguntayo urged party members and aspirants to play by the rules and respect the internal democratic processes already approved for the election.

He reaffirmed that the Ekiti APC governorship primary election will hold across the 177 wards in the state and will be conducted using the Option A4 direct primary system, where members will line up openly behind their preferred aspirants.

“The process is simple and transparent. It will take place in all wards, and members will openly queue behind their choice. There will be no room for manipulation or deceit,” he explained.

Dr. Oguntayo praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji for running an inclusive administration that has restored confidence among stakeholders and reunited party leaders across divides, urging members to consolidate on the peace already achieved under his leadership.

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Do Not Orchestrate Chaos in Ekiti, APC Integrity Caucus Cautions Kayode Ojo

The Ekiti APC Integrity Caucus (IC) has cautioned Gubernatorial Aspirant Engr. Kayode Ojo against inciting disorder in the state as the primary election approaches.

A statement issued by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Micheal Falodun, and disseminated to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, articulated that Kayode Ojo appears determined to undermine the APC in Ekiti and disrupt the prevailing peace and tranquility within the state.

Falodun expressed that the Integrity Caucus has observed with dismay Ojo's reckless remarks directed at the incumbent Governor since the onset of the electioneering period, as well as his disparagement of the accomplishments of Governor Oyebanji's administration in the state.

"Common sense should elucidate to Ojo that denouncing Oyebanji's achievements and asserting that he has accomplished nothing is tantamount to disparaging the entire APC in Ekiti and claiming the party has achieved nothing. Yet, he aspires to contest under the same APC. Is that a reasonable stance?"Falodun queried.

The group criticized Ojo's strategy of employing influencers to malign Ekiti, indicating that he harbours no genuine interest in the welfare of the state, and is instead clouded by his unbridled ambition.

The Ekiti APC Integrity Caucus (IC) expressed astonishment at Ojo's recent actions, which include allegedly compensating miscreants to chant hostile and malevolent slogans in the streets of Ado-Ekiti against Governor Oyebanji, who is ostensibly his ally within the same party. 

IC asserted that Ojo has demonstrated an inability to be entrusted with power, where he would oversee dissenting voices. 

"Individuals like Ojo cannot endure what they inflict upon others," Falodun remarked.

The group commended Oyebanji for embodying the qualities of a true gentleman, particularly in light of the inflammatory rhetoric propagated by Kayode Ojo, and for refraining from engaging in retaliatory actions despite having substantial authority to do so.

"Oyebanji has exhibited the highest degree of Omoluabi, and we commend him for that. He has consistently demonstrated a lack of bitterness and hostility toward opposition or dissent. This is precisely why he will maintain his governorship and successfully complete a second term; development can only flourish in a state devoid of chaos, and Oyebanji epitomizes peace and tranquility,"Falodun asserted.

The group acknowledged that Kayode Ojo has finalized plans to defect from the APC to the ADC, where a Gubernatorial ticket has been reserved for him should he fail to secure the APC primary, and cautioned him against jeopardizing the party's stability in the state with his excessive ambition, emphasizing that no one can attain what has not been ordained by God.

They urged security agencies to preemptively ensure that disruptive aspirants do not instigate a political crisis in the state.

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APC Members Rooting for BAO Ahead of Primary ~ Speaker Aribasoye

…says only revalidated party members will vote in the Option A4 direct primary

...lauds proactive security measures across Ekiti to safeguard lives and property

Ado Ekiti

October 8, 2025

Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Stephen Adeoye Aribasoye, has described Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) as a compassionate and people-centred leader whose humility and development-driven governance have endeared him to genuine members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the 177 wards of the state.

Speaking on a Progress FM 100.5 program titled “Ṣé O Mọ BAO Dáadá?”, Aribasoye said APC members are resolute in their support for the Governor ahead of the October 27 governorship primary, noting that the contest within the party is not about who to vote for, but about the extent of delivery for BAO in every ward.

“Ward by ward in Ekiti, what’s happening now is total delivery for BAO. The competition is not about who to vote for; it’s about delivering 100% for BAO everywhere,” he said.

The Speaker explained that only registered and revalidated members of the APC are eligible to participate in the direct primary, which will hold simultaneously across all wards in the state. He clarified that the process will follow the Option A4 model, a system that allows party members to queue behind their preferred candidate in a transparent and inclusive manner.

According to him, votes cast in the direct primary will later be ratified by officially designated ratification delegates, making the exercise both participatory and democratic, which is in accordance with the party's electoral guidelines.

“It’s a direct primary; all revalidated members will vote at their various wards. After that, ratification delegates will affirm the outcome. There’s no contest, you only reap what you sow. Governor Oyebanji has been visible, loyal, and generous to the party, and the members are standing by him,” Aribasoye added.

He dismissed critics on social media as non-party members, stressing that the authentic APC family is united behind the Governor’s re-election bid.

The Speaker also applauded the Oyebanji-led administration for the massive road rehabilitation works currently ongoing across the state, which he said are already boosting economic activities and improving citizens’ livelihoods.

On the recent deployment of security personnel across Ado Ekiti and other strategic locations in the state, Aribasoye said the move was a proactive measure by Governor Oyebanji in line with his constitutional duty to protect lives and property. He noted that the governor’s action was not political, but purely preventive, aimed at forestalling infiltration and ensuring that Ekiti remains one of the safest states in the country.

According to him, the government could not afford to take chances, given the growing wave of insecurity in some neighbouring states, where cases of kidnapping and banditry had become worrisome.

“The constitution is very clear, the primary duty of any government is to safeguard lives and property. What the governor has done is a responsible step to prevent any breach of peace. We’ve seen what’s happening around us, and Ekiti cannot fold its arms until it escalates. The security deployment is a safety measure, not a sign of crisis,” the Speaker explained.

Speaking on why the legislative arm of government is strongly in support of continuity, Aribasoye explained that Ekiti gained nothing from the era of political hostility between the executive and the legislature in the past.

“We all saw what happened when the executive and legislative arms were at loggerheads. Ekiti didn’t gain anything from those periods of unnecessary conflict. There’s no good thing that comes out of fighting the executive arm. That’s why we in the legislature are standing with Governor Oyebanji for continuity, stability, and progress,” he said.

He emphasized that continuity of government remains the bedrock of sustainable development, citing Lagos as an example of how political stability and successive administrations working in alignment can transform a state.

“Continuity brings progress. It helps a government consolidate on its gains. Ekiti must not become an experimental ground where inexperienced people come and go at will. What we need is stability, peace, and steady development, and that’s what BAO represents,” the Speaker concluded.

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‘It’ll Be a Carnival for BAO on Primary Day,’ Says Karounwi

...as Oyebanji Personally Funds Party Executives from His Purse

October 6, 2025

Former Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Rt. Hon. Oladapo Karounwi, has described the forthcoming APC governorship primary in Ekiti as a “carnival-like celebration” for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, noting that the governor’s popularity has made the contest more of a formality than a competition.

Karounwi, who spoke during Ṣ’óo mọ BAO, a radio programme aired on Voice FM, Ado Ekiti, said that the party’s adoption of direct primaries reflects the strength of its internal democracy and the confidence of members in the leadership of Governor Oyebanji.

“All card-carrying members of the APC will queue behind their chosen aspirants in their wards. From all indications, Ekiti people have already decided to stand firmly behind Governor Biodun Oyebanji,” he said.

He said the forthcoming primary is going to be a “carnival-like atmosphere” for BAO across the 177 wards of Ekiti, adding that “even non-APC members will attend to witness history because the love for BAO cuts across party lines.”

While reacting to concerns raised by some party faithful over rumours that the primary might be moved to Abuja, Karounwi clarified that the election will hold in Ekiti, strictly in line with the party’s electoral guidelines.

“There’s no cause for alarm. The primaries will be held here in Ekiti. All machinery is already in motion to ensure a transparent and credible process,” he assured.

Across the 177 wards, party faithful have begun mobilising, describing the forthcoming exercise as a “festival of democracy” in support of Governor Oyebanji’s people-centred leadership.

Karounwi also recalled his recent trip to Abuja when Governor Oyebanji went to submit his nomination form, noting that he was impressed by the firm stance of the APC national leadership during the session.

“I was in Abuja when the governor went to submit his form. I was so happy with what the party said, they made it clear that because of their past experiences, they will not field anyone who is not qualified, whose emergence could lead to continuous legal tussles arising from violations of election guidelines. That’s a very strong message,” he said.

Speaking further, Karounwi emphasized that Governor Oyebanji has continued to set an ethical standard in leadership by personally funding the welfare of party executives at all levels, from ward to state.

The governor pays all party Exco members from his own purse, from ward to local government and up to state level. This is in line with best practices and the lessons from the Coker Commission of Inquiry, which warned and almost convicted the late sage Pa Obafemi Awolowo for using Western Government money to fund party activities. BAO understands that governance and party structure must be financially independent,” he explained.

The APC stalwart noted that Oyebanji’s selfless approach to party administration has endeared him even more to members across the state, who now see him as a model of humility, transparency, and fairness.

“The governor’s sincerity and consistency have made him the rallying point for all. That is why this primary election won’t be just a political process, it will be a celebration of good leadership and loyalty,” he added.

Karounwi also hinted that the party leadership is already liaising with relevant agencies, including INEC and security bodies, to guarantee a hitch-free exercise across the state.

With the level of preparation and enthusiasm witnessed across Ekiti, the APC primary is expected to reaffirm Oyebanji’s broad acceptance and further consolidate the unity of the party in the state.

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