Trending 
Eight hundred and eighty-five elected delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State have unanimously endorsed Governor Biodun Oyebanji as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming election.
The special nomination congress, held on Monday at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, was peaceful and well-organised. It was supervised by the Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, who chaired the committee overseeing the exercise.
The congress began in the morning, and Governor Oyebanji arrived at about 10:40 a.m. to a warm reception from delegates.
In his opening address, Governor Ododo emphasised the party’s commitment to due process and strict compliance with legal and procedural requirements in confirming Oyebanji as the consensus candidate.
He then invited Mrs Atinuke Omolayo to formally announce her withdrawal from the race. Following her withdrawal, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion for Oyebanji’s affirmation, which was seconded by the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye.
Ododo subsequently called for a voice vote, and all delegates responded with a resounding “yes,” confirming Oyebanji’s candidature.
He noted that Ekiti State was the first to conduct such a special nomination congress.
Before the exercise, two aspirants were disqualified for failing to meet party guidelines, while another voluntarily withdrew in support of the incumbent governor.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Oyebanji expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his continuous support and encouragement.
He said the affirmation represented the collective will of APC members across the state and pledged his commitment to leading the party to victory in the coming election.
Celebrating his emergence as the first consensus candidate of a ruling party in Ekiti, Oyebanji extended an olive branch to Kayode Ojo, one of the disqualified aspirants, urging him to join in advancing the state’s development agenda.
