Ahead of the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has called on the people of the state to maintain peace and orderliness.
While condemning the recent waves of political violence and attacks in some parts of the state, he revealed that his ambition is not worth the blood of any citizen.
Oyebanji, in a statewide broadcast relayed on all radio and television stations in the state on Tuesday morning, maintained that “the security agencies will be on the alert and will not allow anybody to bloodstain the immaculate name of Ekiti as a peaceful and progressive State.”
The Governor assured the citizens of Ekiti that his administration is determined to protect the state and work hard to prevent the breakdown of law and order in the build-up to the governorship primaries in October and the main election in June 2026.
The Governor said he was compelled to make the broadcast in view of recent cases of orchestrated violence in some parts of the state.
Oyebanji said he has been “seriously alarmed by the recent occurrence of political thuggery in some parts of the state,” which negates the fact that Ekiti has been peaceful for over two and a half years of his administration and has been adjudged by the security community as the most peaceful state.”
He admonished the people of the state not to allow individuals he referred to as “fifth columnists” to weaponize the challenges associated with some roads that need rehabilitation to blind them from seeing other roads that the State Government and the Federal Government have fixed.
He equally enjoined political leaders to rein in their supporters to give peace a priority, while also appealing to his supporters to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner and avoid acrimonious engagement with anyone, no matter the level of provocation.
According to him, “It should never be heard that members of my party or those sympathetic to us are involved in acts that are capable of instigating violence. My aspiration is not worth the precious blood of any Ekiti person. No one is allowed to bully, intimidate, or coerce another person, and every Ekiti citizen has a right to freely move around and to peacefully canvass for votes.
“While it is generally expected that political temperature often heightens during electioneering season, it is almost a given that with the two previous gubernatorial elections in the State, which were adjudged very peaceful, Ekiti has embraced a new political culture where political actors contest with ideas, and not with guns or cutlasses. The recent incidents are therefore a condemnable drawback that must not be allowed to fester.
“Indeed, the harshest critics of this administration have acknowledged that we have run an inclusive government; not only by crossing the aisle of partisan division to appointing opposition people into Government, but by also deliberately reaching out to key opposition leaders, including those who contested against us, to be stakeholders in our administration.
“We deliberately took this path because of our abiding belief in peace and its imperatives for sustainable socioeconomic development. There is no doubt that the Ekiti political environment has been indulgent, liberal, open, and peaceful since we took over. That is why one is seriously concerned about the pockets of intolerable violence that took place in the one last week.
“It was even scarier that these attacks came after our initial appeal to stakeholders to maintain the peace and ensure a rancor-free electioneering. I once again appeal to my supporters to maintain the peace, conduct themselves in an exemplary manner, and avoid any acrimonious engagement with anyone, no matter the level of provocation. It should never be heard that members of my party or those sympathetic to us are involved in acts that are capable of instigating violence. My aspiration is not worth the precious blood of any Ekiti person.
“Whereas our Constitution, as a nation, grants all citizens the right to freedom of association and expression, such a freedom must be exercised within the confines of the law. No one is allowed to bully, intimidate, or coerce another person, and every Ekiti citizen has a right to freely move around and to peacefully canvass for votes.
“I therefore appeal to all political leaders to rein in on their supporters to give peace a priority. The seed of our ambition should not be nurtured with the blood of our followers. We must all be committed to the ideals that the peace of Ekiti is more important than our individual aspirations.”
The Governor appealed to all Ekiti people to go about their normal legitimate activities without fear or hesitation, noting that security agencies have been properly briefed to ensure a peaceful environment and to quickly deal with any threat without let or favor.
Oyebanji assured the people of the commitment of his administration to the social contract he has with them, which he said has manifested in all sectors of the economy, adding that he would continue to serve them and work for their overall wellbeing.
