Ekiti 2026: APC Boasts of Landslide Victory as Yilwatda Inaugurates National Campaign Council
By Raphael Ekpang
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed confidence of securing a resounding victory in the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State as the party formally inaugurated its National Campaign Council for Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election bid.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, described Governor Biodun Oyebanji as one of the party’s best-performing governors, citing his administration’s achievements in infrastructure, social protection, healthcare, education and grassroots development.
Yilwatda, who recently visited Ekiti State to inspect ongoing projects, said he personally witnessed the governor’s performance and declared that the APC was proud to present Oyebanji for a second term.
“I was an eyewitness that the government is doing very, very well. You’ve built roads, provided social protection, scholarships, health support systems and connected communities across the state,” he said.
The APC chairman boasted that no opposition party could match the calibre of political heavyweights backing the governor, pointing to the presence of governors from different geopolitical zones, members of the National Assembly and party leaders from across the country.
“We have the numbers. We have the strength. We are prepared. These array of soldiers standing before me are prepared to conquer,” he declared, adding that funding and mobilisation would not be challenges for the party’s campaign.
He subsequently inaugurated the National Campaign Council, chaired by the governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, charging members to deliver victory for the party in the election.
In his remarks, Governor Biodun Oyebanji attributed the achievements of his administration to the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying federal policies and resources had enabled his government to fulfil campaign promises made to the people.
According to him, the challenge before the APC is not winning the election but increasing its margin of victory.
“In the last election, we gave Mr President 67 per cent of our total votes cast. For 2026, we are targeting 500,000 votes, and for 2027, we aim to deliver 700,000 votes. It is ambitious, but it is achievable,” Oyebanji said.
The governor described the forthcoming election as “a celebration of performance and democracy,” stressing that his administration had remained faithful to the social contract signed with Ekiti people.
He also commended the APC State Campaign Council led by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele for deploying more than 10,000 canvassers across the state’s 2,445 polling units ahead of the election.
The governor further acknowledged the support of former Ekiti governors, particularly Niyi Adebayo, whom he described as a key party leader committed to the state’s development.
Earlier, APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, in his opening remarks said the party had assembled some of its most experienced political strategists to ensure victory in the election.
Basiru explained that the campaign council had been divided into 11 specialised subcommittees covering election planning, finance and resource mobilisation, grassroots engagement, logistics, protocol, media and publicity, security, women mobilisation, youth mobilisation, persons with disabilities mobilisation and secretariat services.
He said the structures were designed to provide strategic coordination and ensure that the party’s campaign reaches every ward, polling unit and local government area in the state.
“The National Working Committee has no doubt that these committees will deliver efficiently and ensure victory for our party on June 20,” he said.
Accepting his appointment as chairman of the National Campaign Council, Governor Uba Sani expressed confidence that Oyebanji would secure a landslide victory based on his performance and widespread acceptance among the people.
He recalled that Oyebanji won the 2022 governorship election with 187,557 votes and defeated his closest rival by more than 104,000 votes.
“Our target is ambitious but achievable. We are aiming for a significant increase in votes and a victory margin that reflects the confidence of the people in APC governance,” Sani stated.
The Kaduna governor revealed that the party had already established campaign structures across all 16 local government areas and 177 wards in Ekiti State to ensure effective grassroots mobilisation.
He noted that President Tinubu’s economic and governance reforms were empowering states to deliver development and would form a major part of the APC’s campaign message.
Sani also highlighted the unprecedented support Oyebanji enjoys from all living former governors of Ekiti State, describing it as a rare political endorsement that underscores the governor’s inclusive leadership style.
He added that the campaign would prioritise engagement with women and youths, whom he described as critical stakeholders in shaping the future of the state.
“This campaign is not just about winning an election. It is about securing the future of Ekiti State and ensuring that the gains of good governance continue,” he said.
The Ekiti governorship election is scheduled to hold on June 20, with the APC expressing confidence that Oyebanji’s record in office and the party’s extensive mobilisation efforts would deliver another decisive victory at the polls.
