Female political appointees in Ekiti State have given their backing to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to seek a second term in office based on what they called his “impressive and superlative performance in office.”
Acting under the aegis of BAO Female Political Office Holders (both elected and appointed), they urged all members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to unite and work for Oyebanji to clinch the party’s governorship ticket and re-election in the 2026 governorship election.
At the endorsement gathering held at the Conference Hall of the Office of the First Lady (Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka Women Centre) in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, the women political office holders resolved that Governor Oyebanji has performed creditably well with his populist and life-changing policies and projects for the benefit of Ekiti people.
Led by the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, the female political office holders pledged to go back to their units, wards and local government areas to mobilize people’s support in their localities to ensure the success of the Oyebanji re-election project.
Joining the Deputy Governor to endorse Oyebanji for another term in office were the Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro; former Commissioner in the state, Chief Ronke Okusanya and the state APC Women Leader, Mrs. Caroline Egunlusi.
Oyebanji’s yet-to-be declared bid was endorsed by various blocs of female political office holders including female State Executive Council members, House of Assembly members, Local Government Chairpersons, Secretaries, Councillors, Supervisors, Advisers, Party State Exco Members and leaders in all the three Senatorial Districts.
The endorsement session was attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Olajide Awe; Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun and Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Karonwi Oladapo who all stressed the importance of unity to ensure that Oyebanji remains in office till 2030 for Ekiti to continue to witness good governance.
The Deputy Governor, Chief Afuye, urged the women political office holders to repay the faith Governor Oyebanji have in them which gave them the opportunity to occupy the positions they are holding; noting that his administration have more women in prestigious political positions than any other administration and this has placed Ekiti State on a global map of being a gender-friendly state.
While noting that Governor Oyebanji’s election has benefited the people of the state immensely, Chief Afuye warned against disunity and discontent within the ranks of the party and the government, for the task ahead to be achieved in the interest of consolidating the good works in the state.
The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olagbaju, who moved the motion for Governor Oyebanji’s endorsement through a voice vote which received deafening “ayes” affirmation, said this is the time for the female office holders to reciprocate their elevation by supporting the project.
Rt. Hon. Olagbaju revealed that Ekiti State under Governor Oyebanji has the highest number of women political office holders which she put at over 300 and described as unprecedented in the history of the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Adubiaro, said her boss (Governor Oyebanji) deserves another term in office having justified the popular mandate he received in the 2022 governorship election as shown by verifiable indices of governance on ground
She called on female political office holders to refrain from divisive tendencies like disloyalty, anti-party activities and always identify with the people in their localities especially their units and wards where electorate would vote when the time comes.