2027: Oyebanji Inaugurates Tinubu Campaign Council in Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in the state, tasking its 157 members with increasing grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement ahead of the 2027 general election.

The council brings together political leaders, federal appointees, National Assembly members, state lawmakers, and other party stakeholders to coordinate efforts to secure votes for President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking at the inauguration on Friday, Oyebanji said the council’s responsibility extended beyond organising rallies and campaign activities. 

He urged members to identify registered voters who did not participate in previous elections, establish why they stayed away and encourage them to vote in 2027.

The governor, who will coordinate the council as its chairman, expressed concern that only about 400,000 of the more than one million registered voters in Ekiti participated in the June 20 governorship election.

He therefore directed members to focus on voters who were absent from the poll and develop strategies to increase participation in the next general election.

Oyebanji said the council would use a structured system to monitor eligible voters across polling units, wards and local government areas. 

The governor said that the council would develop a comprehensive voter-tracking structure covering all the 16 local government areas and polling units in the state within the next two weeks, with members expected to identify and mobilise eligible voters ahead of the election. 

The governor also called on APC members to put aside internal disagreements and work with anyone willing to support Tinubu’s re-election, regardless of their political affiliation.

Speaking on behalf of the council, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele pledged members’ commitment to the assignment, expressing confidence that the party had the political experience and organisational structures needed to deliver on its target.

Bamidele commended Oyebanji for ensuring that the council reflected a broad range of stakeholders. He also said the APC’s victory in the recent governorship election had given the party valuable experience and momentum ahead of the presidential poll.

He assured the governor that members would work together to improve the party’s electoral performance for Tinubu in 2027.

The Senate Leader also acknowledged the presence of candidates from other political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party’s Wole Oluyede, describing their attendance as a sign of political goodwill and openness to wider cooperation.

In his remarks, APC State Chairman Sola Elesin said the council was established to coordinate support for Tinubu’s re-election and secure more votes for the President than the party recorded in previous elections.

He urged members to approach the assignment with dedication and responsibility, saying Ekiti should rank among the states delivering the highest number of votes for Tinubu in 2027.