A huge crowd of Ekiti residents and party faithful, across interest lines on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, endorsed President Bola Tinubu and State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji for second term in office.
This is coming just as former Gov. Ayo Fayose of PDP declared he would cede his unprecedented record of defeating a particular unnamed incumbent, 16-0 in all the 16 local government areas of the state to Oyebanji and Tinubu.
Fayose, who again vowed not to ever join APC for any reason, said he particularly decided to work for the second term victories of both Tinubu and Oyebanji, because of their character and performance.
DAILY POST reports that the endorsement event which took place at the 14,000-capacity Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, was already filled to capacity before the 10:00am take off time, as artisans, civil servants, unions and associations, moved in, in torrents.
It was witnessed by hordes of top notchers and members of the ruling APC, and also attended by hundreds of residents, with different political affiliations
Among key national opposition party leaders that were present are: former Gov. Ayo Fayose of PDP, his former deputy and one-time Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, also of PDP, and former Gov. Segun Oni of SDP, including Chief Obafemi Adewale (SAN) of PDP.
At the occasion, the duo of Sen. Biodun Olujimi and Adewale, including their followers, announced their cross -carpeting to APC.
On the list of APC big wigs are: Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, Gov Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, former Gov. Niyi Adebayo, all serving and former Senators and Reps from Ekiti, chairman, Nigeria Ports Authority, Dayo Adeyeye, Mr Oyetunji Ojo, chairman, Federal Housing Authority, (FHA), among several others.
In his welcome address, former Ekiti Deputy governor and chairman of the statewide endorsement committee, Chief Abiodun Aluko, said the event was a grand confirmation of the collective will of all Ekiti people, after months of similar endorsements at both Senatorial, local, and ward levels.
According to him, the endorsement was also to appreciate the good works of both president Tinubu and governor Oyebanji.
He said with the public endorsement, the second term tenure of Tinubu and Oyebanji are not negotiable.
Highlights of the event include where Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele moved the motion for the endorsement of Tinubu, and seconded by Rep Femi Bamisile from 2027 – 2031.
Another motion for second term of Oyebanji was also moved by Speaker, Ekiti Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, and seconded seconded by his deputy, Bolaji Akinyemi, saying that Oyebanji should continue till 2030
Speaking at the event, Senator Bashir Ajijola, APC National Secretary, who coordinated the event, and received decampees, promised that the party’s elected officials, especially governors, would continue to function, in a manner that more Nigerians would be further attracted to the party.
In a goodwill message, Sen. Bamidele described the endorsement, as a payback time on achievements of both Tinubu, and Oyebanji, warming the Ekiti people not to be deceived by the antics of enemies, especially the newly formed ADC coalition, who would be coming to cajole them with lies.
In his words, ‘ADC is a wrong choice in politics’
