Ekiti 2026: Oyebode predicts violence-free election

The Special Adviser on Media to Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, Yinka Oyebode, has predicted a violence-free governorship election in the state on Saturday.

Oyebode made the prediction when he received a number of media executives in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday.

He attributed his prediction to the free space Oyebanji gave all the political parties to campaign across the state.

He said that the state, before now, used to record some forms of violence during elections because of the stifling of political activities of the opposition by the government in power.

The Special Adviser said that the present governor regarded Ekiti citizens as one entity, hence the enabling environment given to the opposition parties to operate freely.

Oyebode stressed: “Everyone in Ekiti enjoys equal right, freedom, irrespective of political, religious or cultural affiliations.”

The governor’s aide attributed violence during elections to what he tagged reactionary actions of the opposition from hostile political environment most times created by the government in power.

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But reviewing the process so far, Oyebode said that Ekiti remains the most peaceful state in the country.

He said: “The governor as the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has prioritised unity and peaceful co-existence throughout his governorship campaigns.

“As we speak, all the past governors of the state and majority of political heavyweights all interact freely under the leadership of the present governor.

“Again, there is no report of the opposition saying that they were not allowed to operate unlike the situation before now, and this is clear indication that we are expecting peaceful and violent-free exercise tomorrow.”

Oyebode further praised the governor for bringing most of the key political actors together to contribute their quota in the efforts to entrench good governance and move the state forward.

He cited the incorporation of the state present and past leaders, more importantly past governors, into his administration’s critical policies and programmes, irrespective of political affiliations, as a good case in point.

He said: “All of us are one.

“The opposition enjoys equal freedom as the ruling party. 

“They also did their own campaigns as responsibly as possible with that space.

“In spite of the fact that the police were deployed, even without police deploying, the grand work has been done by the leaders who have been preaching peaceful conduct.

“Every speech of the governor was talking about peaceful conduct.”

The image maker expressed optimism that the unity and peace being enjoyed in the state would translate to massive turnout of voters and the desired victory towards the governor’s re-election for another term in office.

Oyebode added: “We expect a very good turnout.

“We have seen it even in the collection of PVC.

“So far people have made almost 91 percent of the collection. 

“And there has been a remarkable improvement in what we had in terms of voter registration in the previous elections.

“All these leaders teaming up with the governor also have their own followers.

“So if all of their followers are now following one person, you will agree that the governor has made significant impact.”

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