Clearing the Fog: Understanding the Veracity of the Consensus Affirmation of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.

Clearing the Fog: Understanding the Veracity of the Consensus Affirmation of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.

...a response to the faceless Coalition of Civil Society Groups (COCSG).

The foremost grassroots sensitisation and mobilisation movement for sustaining good governance and democratic culture in Ekiti State, Oyebanji Street Vanguard (_OSV_), has strongly condemned in strong terms the recent obnoxious and false information being circulated by a faceless organisation parading itself as the Coalition of Civil Society Groups (COCSG).

In a statement released by the Convener, Hon. HC Ade, the group described the criticisms against the seamless consensus affirmation of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as a product of ignorance, misinformation, and deliberate mischief by outsiders unfamiliar with Ekiti’s political realities and the provisions of Section 84 of the Nigerian Electoral Act, 2022.

According to the statement, rather than acknowledging the transparent, peaceful, and lawful process that produced the APC governorship candidate for the June 20, 2026 election, the so-called COCSG chose to display its shallow understanding of the INEC guidelines, the Nigerian Electoral Act, and the supremacy of the APC National Working Committee (NWC).

The OSV has further clarified that the adoption of Governor Oyebanji through consensus affirmation followed the due process in its totality and was guided by the following factors:

Strict compliance with relevant laws and party guidelines.

●Disqualification of aspirants who failed to meet up with set criteria by the NWC.

●Voluntary withdrawal and endorsement of the BAO by the only remaining aspirant, Mrs. Atinuke Olayemi Omolayo.

●The Governor’s sterling performance and visible achievements within three years in office.

●The overwhelming support of Ekiti people, both elites and grassroots alike.

The group has thus questioned the credibility of the so-called COCSG, asking relevant question: “Where were they when Governor Oyebanji was receiving unprecedented endorsements from groups across and beyond the State?”

Indeed, the consensus for BAO’s return enjoys the solid backing of:

●The Presidency and the entire APC structure from National to the Ward levels.

●The Ekiti Caucus in the National Assembly, led by Senate Leader, Senator (Dr.) Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.

●The 26-member State House of Assembly under Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye.

●All 38 Local Government and LCDA Chairmen, and the Conference of former legislators led by Senator Adetunmbi.

●Former Governors and Deputy Governors across party lines, under the leadership of Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Paul Alabi, and Professor Modupe Adelabu.

●Women and youth groups, opinion leaders, CSOs, and Ekiti indigenes at home and in the diaspora.

While patriotic groups and stakeholders are uniting to consolidate the gains of good governance, these “commercial civil society actors” continue to expose their ignorance by mocking the progress of both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) and Governor Oyebanji, using propaganda to mislead unsuspecting citizens.

The Oyebanji Street Vanguard has therefore urged all well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy to disregard the baseless rantings of these faceless individuals and continue to support strong democratic institutions which are the foundation of our political stability and sustainable development.

Finally, OSV, has however advised the so-called COCSG to focus on their states and stop meddling in Ekiti affairs they neither understand nor experience. The people of Ekiti know what they want, and they have spoken loudly through their united support for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.

HC Ade,

Convener,

Oyebanji Street Vanguard (OSV)