Ekiti 2026: APC Launches Campaign Council, Targets 500,000 Votes for Oyebanji

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated its National Campaign Council for the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, setting an ambitious target of securing at least 500,000 votes for Governor Biodun Oyebanji in his bid for a second term.

The council was unveiled in Abuja at a gathering attended by the party’s national leadership, governors, National Assembly members and other key stakeholders, who pledged support for Oyebanji’s re-election.

Leading the charge, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, described the Ekiti governor as one of the party’s best-performing leaders, citing his achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education and social welfare.

Yilwatda said he recently visited the state to assess the administration’s performance and was impressed by the level of development recorded across various sectors.

“I was in Ekiti State a few days ago not just to visit, but also to inspect what the governor is doing. And I can testify, I was an eyewitness that the government is doing very, very well,” he said.

He commended Oyebanji for what he described as people-oriented governance, adding that the governor had earned the trust and support of residents through his programmes and projects.

The APC chairman also expressed confidence in the party’s chances at the poll, arguing that its strength and widespread support base would be difficult for opponents to match.

“We have the numbers. We have the strength. We are prepared,” he declared.

Yilwatda pointed to the presence of governors and party leaders from across the country’s six geopolitical zones as evidence of the APC’s unity and readiness for the election.

He added that the campaign structure would be inclusive, involving women, youths and persons with disabilities in mobilising support for the party.

Chairman of the National Campaign Council and Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, said the target of 500,000 votes was achievable given the governor’s performance and the party’s grassroots presence.

“Our goal for the upcoming election is ambitious, yet achievable. We are targeting an increase of over 100 per cent in the number of votes for APC. APC will aim for a margin of victory of no less than 500,000 votes,” Sani said.

He recalled that Oyebanji secured 187,557 votes in the 2022 governorship election and defeated his closest challenger by more than 104,000 votes, describing the outcome as a strong endorsement by the people of Ekiti State.

According to him, the party has already put campaign structures in place across all 16 local government areas and 177 wards in the state to drive voter mobilisation and engagement.

Sani also attributed the APC’s confidence to the reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu, saying they were creating opportunities for states to improve governance and development.

The Kaduna governor further noted that Oyebanji enjoys rare political support across the state, including backing from former governors, which he described as a reflection of the governor’s inclusive leadership style.

Responding, Oyebanji thanked the party leadership for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to continue delivering on the promises made to the people of Ekiti.

He said his administration had remained committed to the social contract it signed with the electorate and credited President Tinubu’s policies for enabling states to undertake critical development projects.

“For the past three years plus, we have succeeded in ensuring that the social contract we signed with the people of Ekiti State has been faithfully implemented,” the governor said.

Oyebanji expressed optimism that the APC would surpass its electoral targets in the governorship election and also deliver a strong showing for the party in the 2027 general election.

He revealed that the APC’s state campaign machinery had already deployed more than 10,000 canvassers across the state’s 2,445 polling units to mobilise voters ahead of the election.

The governor also commended party leaders and stakeholders for their support, particularly former Governor Niyi Adebayo, whose presence at the inauguration he described as a symbol of unity within the APC.

At the end of the ceremony, Yilwatda formally inaugurated the National Campaign Council and charged members to work towards securing a decisive victory for the party in the June 20 governorship election.

Among dignitaries at the event were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, governors from several states, members of the National Assembly and APC stalwarts from across the country.

With the campaign council now in place, the ruling party says it is fully prepared for the election and confident of returning Oyebanji for another four-year term.