With days to the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have intensified campaigns in a fierce battle for the votes of over one million registered voters.
The election, which political observers describe as a key test of political strength ahead of the 2027 general elections, is expected to determine the future direction of governance in the state.
Although 15 political parties are participating in the poll, the contest has largely narrowed to a three-way race involving incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC, Dr Wole Oluyede of the PDP and Dare Bejide of the ADC.
The candidates have continued to take their campaigns across the state’s 177 wards and 16 local government areas, canvassing support from voters.
One notable feature of the election season has been the peaceful atmosphere that has characterised political activities.
Political parties and candidates signed a peace accord on May 21 under the auspices of the National Peace Committee, with stakeholders pledging to ensure a violence-free electoral process.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also expressed confidence in its preparedness for the election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed that 1,059,360 registered voters are eligible to participate in the exercise, while the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, assured stakeholders of a credible and transparent poll.
For the APC, the election represents an opportunity to consolidate the achievements of the Oyebanji administration and secure another four-year mandate.
The party maintains that the governor’s performance in infrastructure, education, healthcare, technology and security has earned him widespread acceptance among residents.
APC State Publicity Secretary and Co-Director of Publicity and Media of the Biodun Oyebanji Campaign Organisation, Segun Dipe, described the party as the strongest political force in the state and expressed confidence of a landslide victory.
According to him, the APC is targeting more than 500,000 votes in what it hopes will be a historic electoral outing.
Oyebanji has consistently anchored his campaign on continuity, arguing that the gains recorded under his administration require another term for consolidation and sustained development.
However, the PDP has presented the election as an opportunity for voters to embrace change and reject what it describes as underperformance by the current administration.
The party’s candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, is campaigning on a 10-point development agenda focused on agriculture, industrialisation, job creation, technical education, digital literacy, healthcare and infrastructure development.
Director of Media, Publicity and Communications for the Wole Oluyede Campaign Council, Sanya Atofarati, expressed confidence that the PDP would emerge victorious, citing what he described as growing public support for the party across the state.
He said many residents were dissatisfied with the current administration and viewed Oluyede as a credible alternative.
On its part, the ADC has positioned itself as a fresh alternative to the dominant APC and PDP.
The party’s candidate, Dare Bejide, has focused his campaign on security, youth employment, agriculture and industrialisation.
ADC leaders argue that many voters have become disillusioned with the traditional political parties and are looking for a new direction.
Bejide has promised technology-driven security solutions, large-scale youth empowerment programmes, mechanised agriculture and the establishment of cottage industries across the state.
As the election approaches, analysts say incumbency, voter perception of performance, party structures, grassroots mobilisation and the credibility of the electoral process will play critical roles in determining the eventual winner.
With over one million voters expected at the polls, the June 20 governorship election is widely seen as one of the most significant political contests in Ekiti’s recent history.
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