Oyebanji Under Fire Over Self-Succession Plot, APC Elders and Youth Allege Disregard for Tinubu, Party Constitution

Oyebanji Under Fire Over Self-Succession Plot, APC Elders and Youth Allege Disregard for Tinubu, Party Constitution

A group of concerned elders and youth within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, led by Chief Olaofe Adeniran, has accused Governor Biodun Oyebanji of sidelining the directives of President Bola Tinubu and the party's National Working Committee (NWC) by setting up a 24-member committee to push for his emergence as the party’s sole candidate ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election.

The group described the move as a "flagrant disobedience" to the party’s internal democratic processes and a deliberate effort to suppress the rights of other qualified aspirants. According to them, the APC constitution clearly places the responsibility of organising and supervising primary elections on the NWC—not on a sitting governor or a handpicked committee.

They also criticised Governor Oyebanji for ignoring President Tinubu's repeated calls for adherence to internal party democracy and accused him of attempting to shut out eligible members of the party from a fair nomination process.

“This undemocratic and exclusionary approach not only undermines the spirit of fair competition but also contradicts the principles of internal democracy championed by President Tinubu,” the statement read.

The group further revealed that several APC members were invited to a weekend meeting without being informed of the agenda, only to find themselves co-opted into a committee aimed at endorsing the governor’s re-election bid—against their consent.

Describing the move as premature and unlawful, they noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not issued any directive regarding the 2026 elections, making Oyebanji’s succession plans “legally questionable and politically reckless.”

The group alleged that Governor Oyebanji is planning a mega rally to simulate widespread support across the state, which they claim is aimed at creating a false impression of grassroots endorsement.

They also accused the governor of autocratic leadership, stating that members of the State Executive Council are not allowed to contribute meaningfully during meetings. “This style of governance is stifling growth and development in the state,” they said.

Instead of engaging in unsanctioned political campaigns, the group urged Governor Oyebanji to focus on delivering good governance and addressing the state’s growing infrastructural and developmental challenges.

They pointed to recent developments in other states such as Enugu, Katsina, and Anambra—where governors invited President Tinubu to commission landmark infrastructure projects—as examples of governance that Oyebanji should emulate.

“Unfortunately, Ekiti State has no project of such significance to show,” they said, adding that the state’s educational ranking has plummeted, coming 28th out of 36 states in the last NECO examinations. They also noted the absence of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the state teaching hospital as evidence of neglect in the healthcare sector.

The group further decried what they termed “wasteful spending” on endorsement campaigns, alleging that the governor has been using state resources to curry favour with political and opinion leaders while critical sectors continue to suffer.

They also expressed displeasure over the appointment of more than 100 opposition PDP members into key government positions, describing it as a betrayal of loyal APC members who worked for the governor’s victory.

“Who exactly is Governor Biodun Oyebanji afraid of?” the group queried. “Why the rush and desperation? Why is a supposedly popular leader relying on forced adoption and coercive endorsement? These are signs of deep political insecurity.”

They concluded by calling on President Bola Tinubu, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and other national leaders to urgently intervene and stop what they described as a dangerous deviation from the party’s democratic ideals.

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