APC NATIONAL LEADERSHIP ATTESTS TO OYEBANJI’S PEDIGREE
The BAO Impact Series No. 18
BY ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA
The submission of the Governorship Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms by Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of Ekiti State on Wednesday, 10th September, 2025 offered the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) an opportunity to know his value and worth the more.
The day gave the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party an opportunity to have more knowledge of the man Providence has thrust the leadership of Ekiti on his shoulders who is also primed to continue the divine assignment to take the Land of Honour to greater heights.
The event of the day showed that Governor Oyebanji is well loved at home and is always at home with his people and always doing what they want in line with their sacred mandate he holds. The party leaders at the national level saw with their naked eyes that BAO remains the most popular candidate for the state’s number one seat ahead of the 2026 governorship poll.
One of the major talking points of the day was the realization and admission of the fact by the APC national leadership that Governor Oyebanji remains the most experienced personality of all individuals jostling for the party’s ticket and by extension all contenders in other parties who are eyeing the governor’s chair.
This was exemplified by the remarks of the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu, who spoke on behalf of the National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda and by extension other members of the NWC at the Party’s National Secretariat located at 40, Blantyre Street, Wuse, Abuja.
Chief Eneukwu attested to the fact that desire for leadership position must be accompanied with requisite experience which must be acquired over the years under the tutelage of much experienced mentors. This was a major selling point for Governor Oyebanji before the august leaders of the ruling party.
The APC chief said the best of leadership is derived from the one steeped in years of learning and discipleship under older and more experienced sages which he described as “apprenticeship.” Governor Oyebanji had the benefit of serving under two former governors in three administrations in different capacities.
This was not lost on the APC national leaders who noted that being a student of apprenticeship in governance and doing very well with the current mandate entrusted in his care, they were not surprised by the huge show of love and solidarity by the major stakeholders who followed the Governor to the National Secretariat to perform the submission exercise.
Listen to what Chief Eneukwu said: “You want us to see for ourselves that all segments of Ekiti State (are with Governor Oyebanji). In Greece time, before anybody assumes leadership, he goes for an apprenticeship. The present Governor of Ekiti State is a student of apprenticeship.
“From all that has been adduced here, he had served in almost all the governments of Ekiti State under the (former) Governors and when he was doing that, he was learning the art of leadership and that has been exemplified here.
“All segments of the state, everybody that is involved in election and electioneering campaign of electing a Governor, a democratically-elected Governor are in place here. The National Chairman, when he was talking to me said, ‘make sure that we are an umpire’ but even when you are an umpire, when you look at when…(loud ovation from the audience interrupted the speech).
“I want to say just like the (APC) National Vice Chairman (Southwest) has said, we have heard you loud and clear and the difference is clear. We will not forget the man that has always supplied us the venison when we were hungry. We will not forget the man that has always been there for the party for their help when we needed it.
“I can assure you that we will elect somebody that the whole congregation of Ekiti wants. On behalf of the National Chairman of our Great Party and members of the National Working Committee, we assure you today that your mandate will be properly managed.
“We are not going to disparage your mandate; we are going to make sure that it is properly managed so that the popular candidate will emerge.”
Ekiti State is very lucky to have Governor Oyebanji at the helm. On the strength of the experience he had acquired in the past, he hit the ground running almost immediately after his swearing-in and it is not a surprise, that the state has moved up on the ladder of development on all indices.
This is a man who had served as Special Assistant, Special Adviser, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Commissioner in three ministries, Director General of a key governmental agency, Chairman of the Board of a Federal Agency and Secretary to the State Government. A man of such a quality cannot be overlooked.
Governor Oyebanji is not a neophyte, he is not a rookie in governance who will use the first few months or a year or two to learn the ropes. He has the requisite experience garnered over the years which he will use to further the developmental strides already being witnessed in the state.
When somebody sees a good thing, he identifies it and loves to have it. The APC national leadership has seen a man of quality, a man of experience and a man of stellar pedigree who is the best bet for Ekiti at this stage of its development. Governor Oyebanji is the man who the cap fits for the governorship of the state from 2026 to 2030.
*Ogunmola is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (Print Media)