Ekiti guber: How gladiators stand ahead of June 18 poll

Ahead of the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State, candidates of various political parties are strategizing on how to emerge victorious. Daily Trust on Sunday examines some of the major contenders and how they stand ahead of the exercise. 

Ekiti governorship election has always produced winners from the two major political parties in the state – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  But in the election coming up on June 18, a third force – the Social Democratic Party (SDP) – has emerged.  Apparently, the three parties would have to slug it out in the next few days to determine the next governor of the state.

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According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 16 political parties have candidates for the election. The parties include: A, AAC, ADC, ADP, APC, APGA, APM, APP, LP, NNPP, NRM, PDP, PRP, SDP, YPP and ZLP. But despite the number, it is going to be a three-horse-race between the APC, PDP and SDP. The candidates of the parties – Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji (APC); Olabisi Kolawole (PDP); and Olusegun Adebayo Oni (SDP); will be standing on the shoulders of three giants (governors), two of whom are former governors and one who is an incumbent in the state.

The ambience in the town is that the people want a change of leadership in the state. But they are tilting towards new candidates from the two dominant parties. In any case, it is the poll that would determine who would emerge as the new governor at the end of the day.

In considering the capacities and chances of the three candidates in the three-horse-race, it is worthy of mention that Oyebanji of the APC has been in government for a while as former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Commissioner in the state. He is a seasoned administrator who would be banking on the achievements of his party as well as the support of the governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to emerge. However, he might have to contend with those who do not like the leadership style of the governor, as well as the opposition that is mounting against the ruling party in the state.

For Kolawole of the PDP, a former lawmaker and commissioner in the state, he would be resting his hope on Ayo Fayose’s leadership to win the election. But some people are aggrieved over the way he was picked by Fayose, whose popularity among his loyalists have reduced drastically. 

Oni, of the SDP, a former governor in the state would be going to the poll with his integrity profile that he demonstrated when he was governor of the state. Oni would also have to contend with how he would use his new found party to upturn the major party in the state. Though he is becoming popular everyday, he needs to work on more strategies to return to power.

Other candidates that are showing appreciable impact towards the election include Dr. Wole Oluyede of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He is contesting the governorship poll for the second time. The medical expert, too, has his own supporters. He was a strong member of the South West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA), before going for the governorship on the platform of the ADC in the state due to the agitation for the southern part of the state to produce the candidate for the governorship in 2022. But that dream has been put to and end for now.

Another candidate is Engr. Kemi Elebute-Halle of the Action Democratic Party (ADP). She is the first female governorship candidate in the state for this election. She is a philanthropist in humanitarian services in the state. Her candidacy has received acceptability by supporters.

Mr. Debi Ajayi, of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), was a former commissioner in the state during Governor Fayemi’s first tenure.  He has great experience in the corporate world.

In all ramifications, it would be a tall dream for the candidates to come top in the election due to their low level of political structures in the state. But they are trying their best to justify their presence in the race.  

The Publicity Secretaries of the three major parties in the election have claimed victories for themselves.

APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Segun Dipe, said the ruling party was already set for victory. He premised the hope on the landmark achievements by the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration, which, he said, would help the candidate of the party, Biodun Oyebanji, to win the election.

The PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr Raphael Adeyanju, said the APC candidate would not dream success in the election. He pointed out that from all indications, people have rejected the APC and are ready to vote for the PDP. Adeyanju stressed that the people had rejected the continuity agenda of the government of the state.

The SDP Publicity Secretary, Mr Jackson Adebayo, said the candidate of his party, Chief Segun Oni, would win and displace the ruling party to form the next government in the state. Adebayo noted that the people of Ekiti were the ones rooting for their candidate who is gaining more popularity every day for the governorship position. According to him, Oni’s popularity and integrity had started speaking for him and he would win the poll.

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation, Yiaga Africa, through its Director of Programmes, Cynthia Nbamalu, has called on the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve on its communication on processes and procedures ahead of the elections. Nbamalu added that participation in the mock election exercise was poor due to inadequate publicity on the election.

“Yiaga vehemently opposes any sort of voter bribery because it undermines the democratic process. Political parties are encouraged to run issues-based campaigns, rather than tempting voters with unsustainable gifts that do not contribute to the state’s economic development,” he said.