A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ,Surveyor Abiodun Aluko has dismissed insinuations that the gale of endorsements by stakeholders was a ploy to impose the incumbent, governor Biodun Oyebanji as sole candidate of the party ahead of the 2026 poll.
Speaking in Ado-Ekiti , Aluko, former deputy governor of Ekiti is the Chairman of the committee for the state endorsement of Governor Biodun Oyebanji said the stakeholders werecnerrky exercising their democratic and fundamental rights .
He explained that what is happening under the current administration in Ekiti was unprecedented.
According to Aluko ,it is unusual for former governors of the State to queue behind an incumbent ,wondering ” if it is possible to have bullied or bought these distinguished people all at once.”
He argued that a rational mind would understand that their endorsements were not engineered by fear or coercion but natural responses, obviously out of their freewill, to a successor that has delivered beyond expectations.
He added that succession of public endorsements immediately followed including but not limited to the ones by the leaders and people of each of the three senatorial districts in the State as well as a number of groups and individuals comprising the State Caucus of All Progressives Congress (APC) which is the highest organ of the party in the state.
” They include, the State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), all Primary School Teachers in the 16 Local Government Areas of the State, the State Chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Students and youth groups as well as communities and traditional chiefs across the state, stressing that these events were obviously organized independently by groups who are genuinely moved by the governor’s performance”.
Aluko stressed that the planned State-wide endorsement is nothing more than the unification of the series of unanimous endorsements for the Governor’s second term in office by critical Stakeholders across the State, describing any contrary claim as mischievous and a misconception of the reality on ground.
Aluko asked if the those claiming that the constitution of the BAO State Endorsement Committee by stakeholders is a disregard for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call for internal party democracy are aware that not only had APC governors from the north-central geopolitical zone recently passed a vote of confidence on Tinubu’s administration, the entire Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has formally endorsed President Bola Tinubu as the sole candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 presidential election.
He emphasized that everyone is entitled to their opinions, he however queried why the people should be harassed for supporting a Governor that has given them reasons to believe again or when they should show their support and appreciation for the Governor whose impact has been significantly felt across all sectors including road infrastructure or healthcare investment; welfare of workers and pensioners; investment in agriculture, educational support, care for the elderly and vulnerable citizens, and human capital development.
The former Deputy Governor stressed that Governor Oyebanji’s endorsement by the leaders and people of the State is something that has been done and cannot be changed adding that the formulation of the committee was to ensure proper organization of the programme.
“If almost everybody in the State is rooting for the Governor’s second term in office and perceive him to have tremendously impacted positively on the State, what can we do but to help midwife the process for seamless transition? The number of the people calling and begging BAO to run for second time are too numerous and stronger than anyone can ignore and as the saying goes “Vox populi, vox Dei” the voice of the people, is the voice of God. So where is the problem? ”, he said.
He advised people in the State to continually support and pray for wisdom and power of God for the Governor to enable him sustain the pace of rapid development and the prevailing peace in the State.
Sub-committees constituted included the Central Organizing Committee/budget headed by Surv. Biodun Aluko; Fund-raising with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as Chairman and Security led by Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana.
Others are the Media committee with Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun as Chairman; Rt. Hon. Femi Bamisile leading the Mobilization and Entertainment; Rt. Hon Adeoye Aribasoye heading the Venue sub-committee and Dr. Banji Filani superintending the Medical committee.