Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has dismissed reports that he is backing any aspirant in the forthcoming Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency primary election, saying the ticket should be decided by party members.
Sources close to the governor told journalists on Wednesday that Oyebanji has no preferred candidate and remains neutral in the contest.
The sources said the governor was angered by claims that an aspirant was telling delegates he had secured the governor’s backing.
“The governor is not ready to impose any candidate,” the source said. “He wants aspirants to go to the people, sell their manifestos, and let the delegates decide.”
There have been an overnight speculations that a particular aspirant has been peddling fake news deceiving the ward chairmen that he had been endorsed by the Governor.
According to the sources, Oyebanji described the move as misleading and warned that no aspirant should campaign with his name.
He said the governor’s focus is on strengthening internal democracy within the APC and ensuring a transparent, credible process that reflects the will of party members in Oye and Ikole.
Governor Oyebanji has repeatedly stressed that his administration’s priority is delivery of governance, not interference in party primaries.
Meanwhile some stakeholders in Ekiti politics have stressed that maintaining neutrality could help reduce tensions and strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.