By Editor
After months of speculations and anxieties, indications emerged on Sunday that the much awaited declaration of Engr Kayode Ojo to run in the 2026 governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Ekiti State may have been sealed.
This was disclosed at a press conference organized by Kayode Ojo Campaign Organisation in Ado Ekiti on Sunday.
To give credence to the claim during an interactive session with newsmen, the Chairman of the organisation, Mr. Kayode Oluyemo confirmed that the nomination form had been obtained by the APC aspirant noting that. Engr. Ojo will receive the form during the week in Abuja, thereby putting an end to the raging controversies over the issue.
In a terse press release jointly signed by Hon. Lanre Fayemi and Hon. Kayode Oluyemo, the group stated that it was on a mission to rescue Ekiti State.
“As true democrats, we have been carrying out the exercise with decency and intensity, devoid of character assassination and any acts of thuggery, buoyed by our resolve to rescue the Ekiti State from economic bondage and political servitude”.
The group expressed worries at what it described as the inexplicable stagnation ravaging Ekiti State which has stunted her growth despite the huge monthly allocation from the Federation Account.
Oluyemo who read the address, said further;
“Our concern is not out of place. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has severally admonished state governors to justify the unprecedented fiscal inflow into states with visible development results.
“Against the backdrop of the above, the present administration under the leadership of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji owes the Citizenry the duty of ensuring that developmental projects dot every nook and cranny of Ekiti state, in line with the President’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Continuing, the campaign team Chairman said; “As at June 2025, the governor had so far received N286.23 Billion naira from the Federation Account and this humongous amount is exclusive of the allocation to all the SIXTEEN local government areas.
“From the figures obtained from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, each local government area in Ekiti State receives nothing less than N380 million naira every month, amounting to a whooping N6.5n every month. This is apart from internally generated revenue collected so far which amount to over 70 Billion Naira.
“The million dollar question is this: What has the State Government done with this massive inflow of funds and why are these funds not being committed to the rehabilitation of the entire road network in Ekiti State, to ensure accessibility and security which will in turn lead to prosperity for the Citizenry?” He asked
He lamented the poor state of roads at various communities in Ado-Ekiti, the State Capital coupled with epileptic electricity supply while condemning the overhead bridge project in the state capital describing it as white elephant project.
He noted that Governor Alex Otti of Abia State who came into office at almost the same time as Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji managed to execute so many meaningful and impactful projects for his people including an Integrated Energy infrastructure for Abia State
On the Workers’ welfare in Ekiti, Oluyemo challenged the administration on why it paid workers’ leave bonus of 2018 while arrears of gratuity of pensioners are yet to be paid.
His words; “Our intention is to expose more instances of maladministration as soon as we progress in the journey of liberating Ekiti state from political and economic bondage”.
On the polical front, Ojo’s campaign team berated the Governor for what it perceived as his desperation for second term.
“The governor’s desperation has also led to the issuance of threats to local government chairmen, APC chairmen in each local government and APC ward executives not to welcome or entertain any other gubernatorial aspirant.
“To us in Engineer Kayode Ojo’s camp, this threat is not only ludicrous but also vexatious, and aptly demonstrates to all and sundry that the governor intends to turn the APC into his private fiefdom and family inheritance. We wish to remind Mr Governor that APC belongs to all of us and it is on record that Engineer Kayode Ojo, a committed party man and prominent party member, has spent a fortune to nurture APC to an enviable height in Ekiti State”.
“The public is also reminded that Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s intolerance of innocuous democratic activities reached another dimension with the series of attacks on our supporters at Moba, Igede, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ado-Ekiti Local Governments and other parts of the State.
“Our members were picked up at different locations and charged for fictitious offences which include armed robbery and kidnapping.
“We therefore use this medium to call on the Inspector General of Police, the AIG Zone 17, the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State and Area Commanders in Ekiti State to provide a level playing ground for all members of the APC to choose and follow their preferred aspirants preparatory to the APC Gubernatorial Primary Elections.
“We equally plead with the leadership of the APC in Ekiti State to eschew partisanship and embrace all gubernatorial aspirants as one in the APC Family.
“We also plead with our Father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of our great Party to caution Governor Biodun Oyebanji against ordering the arrest, harassment and maiming of APC members in Ekiti State. The forthcoming primary election is not a do or die affair.”
“On our part, the commitment to the Ekiti Project under the Engineer Kayode Ojo Movement is unwavering and we will resist all attempts to intimidate us or stifle every move at ensuring transparency in governance till Ekiti state is liberated through the gubernatorial primary election slated for October 26, 2025.
To our supporters, we urge you to remain steadfast, law abiding and patriotic and unshakably loyal to the cause by stepping up mobilization efforts across the sixteen local governments of the State without any fear as the day of liberation draws nearer”
