The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State is set to ratify Governor Biodun Oyebanji as its 2026 governorship candidate today in a primary election conducted by consensus, following the withdrawal and disqualification of other aspirants.

Until recently, four aspirants sought the party’s ticket: Governor Oyebanji, Kayode Ojo, Abimbola Olawumi, and Atinuke Omolayo. However, the National Working Committee (NWC) disqualified Ojo and Olawumi for failing to meet the party’s constitutional requirements. Omolayo later voluntarily withdrew and endorsed Oyebanji, leaving the incumbent as the sole candidate.

The shift from a competitive primary to a consensus mode means today’s nomination congress will largely function as a ratification or “coronation” of Oyebanji. APC’s Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, clarified that consensus primaries are legitimate under both party and national constitutions.

“If they described consensus generally as coronation, so be it…remaining only one candidate in the race, we have to go with the candidate that people have confidence in and qualified to contest,” Dipe said.

Power Base and Support

As the incumbent governor, Oyebanji enjoys several advantages, including access to party machinery, goodwill from his tenure, and alignment with key stakeholders. Members of the state and national assemblies, as well as local government chairmen, are largely in support of his second-term ambition.

Speaking about disqualified aspirants, Dipe emphasized:

“Ojo deliberately disqualified himself by not following the guidelines of the party…Those who disqualified him are at the national secretariat of our party, so you can take it that he disqualified himself.”

Tinubu’s Intervention

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele revealed that President Bola Tinubu advised Kayode Ojo to withdraw and work with Oyebanji for party unity.

“Engr Kayode Ojo told me that Tinubu has talked to him to stay down, go back home and make peace…Ojo will come home as advised by Tinubu to ensure smooth campaign,” Bamidele said.

Controversy and Tension

Despite the consensus arrangement, controversy persists. Public affairs analyst Lanre Ogunsuyi noted protests by hundreds of party members at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, demanding a transparent primary. Ojo’s supporters argue that the disqualification was unfair and designed to impose Oyebanji as the sole candidate.

The party’s election committee, led by Jarret Tenebe, Chairman of APC in Edo State, has excluded 488 non-financial members from voting to ensure a free and fair delegate congress.

Political Atmosphere

While the primary is expected to ratify Oyebanji, the situation highlights the tension between grassroots competitiveness and alignment with national power structures. Analysts suggest the party is moving toward a managed succession to present a united front ahead of the 2026 governorship election, even as some factions remain dissatisfied.