The Social Capital Needed to Secure Victory: Why Oyebanji Remains APC’s Best Choice.
By Idowu Ephraim Faleye
When it comes to politics, especially in a democracy like ours, people often argue about who should fly the flag of a party. Some argue for change, others argue for continuity. But at the heart of that debate is a simple question: who can deliver both for the people and for the party? In Ekiti State today, that question has a straightforward answer. Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has built up a level of social capital that the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot afford to waste. To attempt to replace him with someone who lacks both his track record and the people’s support would be politically suicidal.
Let us begin with the facts. Ekiti State is not one of the wealthiest states in Nigeria. It does not enjoy oil revenues like Akwa Ibom or Rivers. It does not have the huge industrial base of Lagos or Ogun. Its internally generated revenue and its federal allocation can not be compared with big league states. Yet, despite these limitations, the state under Governor Oyebanji has managed to carve out a name for itself as one of the best-performing states in the country. According to the CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI), Ekiti ranked 5th nationwide with a score of 64.5%. To put this in context, that ranking placed Ekiti ahead of wealthier states such as Ogun, Kano, Edo, and even Rivers. That is not an accident. It is the outcome of discipline, transparency, and clear vision of leadership.
How does a state with such lean resources achieve this kind of recognition? The answer is in the governor’s approach to governance. Governor Oyebanji is not flamboyant, he is not loud, and he is not one of those leaders who mistake noise for achievement. He is deliberate, methodical, and focused. His first major decision after taking office was to commit to transparency. Government expenditures are made available to the public through digital platforms. This has built trust between the government and the people, creating an environment where citizens feel confident that their taxes are being used for real development.
But transparency alone cannot put food on the table or build roads. That is why the governor’s policies go beyond open books. In education, for example, Oyebanji has strengthened Ekiti’s age-old reputation as the “fountain of knowledge.” Many schools that had fallen into disrepair have been renovated. Teachers are paid their salaries promptly and promoted as due. More teachers have been recruited to fill gaps in the system, ensuring that classrooms are not left abandoned. These are not empty gestures. The result is clear in the performance of Ekiti students in national exams, where they continue to rank among the best nationwide. Parents see the difference, teachers feel the impact, and students reap the benefits. That is real governance.
In health, the governor has been equally deliberate. Healthcare in Nigeria is a nightmare in many states, but in Ekiti, reforms are quietly changing the story. The Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme (EKHIS) now covers thousands of residents, including those in the informal sector who previously had no access to affordable healthcare. Hospitals and diagnostic centers have been upgraded, and primary health centers across the state have been rehabilitated. It is no longer the case that residents have to travel to Ibadan or Lagos for specialized care. Slowly but steadily, Ekiti is becoming self-sufficient in healthcare delivery.
Infrastructure development is another area where Governor Oyebanji has proven that good governance is not about how much money you have, but how well you use it. Over 300 kilometers of roads, both rural and township, have been rehabilitated or constructed within just two years. For the wealthy elite, a road may just be a road. But for the farmer in Ijero who can now move his yams to the market in Ado without fear of them rotting by the roadside, that road is life-changing. For the schoolchild in Ikole who no longer has to wade through mud just to get to class, that road is a blessing. And for local businesses that can now connect more easily to consumers, those roads are the difference between profit and loss.
Beyond the traditional areas of governance, Oyebanji has also looked to the future. He understands that the world is changing and that technology and innovation must play a role in Ekiti’s growth. The Ekiti Tech Hub launched in Ado-Ekiti is providing young people with skills in software development, data science, and digital marketing. Already, hundreds of youths are being linked to remote jobs, earning in foreign currency while living at home. This is the kind of thinking that prepares a state for the future, not the outdated empty promises of politicians who only know how to talk.
Agriculture, the backbone of Ekiti’s economy, has also received new energy under Oyebanji. Through the Youth in Commercial Agriculture Development (YCAD) program, graduates are being encouraged and supported to go into farming, not as subsistence farmers but as commercial operators. With access to land, improved seedlings, and government-backed support, these young farmers are not only feeding themselves but are also contributing to food security in the state. This is a strategy that creates jobs, diversifies the economy, and reduces dependence on federal allocation.
Even in security, which is a nightmare across Nigeria, Ekiti stands out. Through community policing, investment in surveillance, and collaboration with traditional rulers, Ekiti has remained relatively peaceful compared to neighboring states. Farmers can go to their farms without fear of abduction, businesses can thrive without constant harassment, and residents can sleep with some peace of mind. This peace is not by accident; it is the product of deliberate investment and leadership.
Now, all of these achievements are important, but what makes them politically valuable is how the people have responded. Across every sector and segment of society, from market women to artisans, from students to traditional rulers, from religious leaders to civil servants, endorsements have poured in for Governor Oyebanji. These are not coerced endorsements. They are not the product of bribery. They are natural expressions of gratitude and admiration for a leader who has shown sincerity and delivered tangible results.
This is where the idea of social capital comes in. In politics, social capital is the goodwill, trust, and network of support that a leader builds over time. It is not bought, it is earned. And it is the most valuable resource a party can have going into an election. Governor Oyebanji has accumulated this social capital in abundance. When you see market women singing his praises, when you hear traditional rulers speaking in his favor, when you witness professional bodies openly endorsing him, what you are seeing is a reservoir of political strength that no amount of propaganda can manufacture.
This is why it is baffling that some within the APC still toy with the idea of replacing Oyebanji with candidates who have no such social capital to their name. Let us be honest: politics is about winning elections. And elections are won by candidates who can command the people’s trust and enthusiasm. Engr. Kayode Ojo, for instance, may have personal ambition, but ambition alone cannot win elections. He does not enjoy the widespread endorsements that Oyebanji has. He has not built the social capital that Oyebanji has. To present him as the APC candidate would be to throw away the natural advantage the party currently holds. It would be like exchanging gold for gravel.
The recent screening exercise that cleared such aspirants despite the glaring lack of credibility only shows that sometimes, processes can fail. But leadership is about correcting those failures before they become disasters. APC must recognize that presenting a candidate who lacks credibility and social capital is not just a risk, it is an invitation to electoral defeat. The people of Ekiti are not blind. They know who has worked and who has not. They know who has their trust and who does not. And they will not reward a party that tries to short-change them with a candidate they do not want.
Let us also remember that the opposition is watching. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other rivals would love nothing more than for APC to make a mistake. They know that as things stand, Oyebanji is the strongest candidate going into the general election. They know that his endorsements represent votes waiting to be harvested. They know that his performance has already won the hearts of many undecided voters. If APC foolishly replace him, it would be handing victory to the opposition on a platter of gold.
The delegates of the APC must therefore rise to the occasion. They must resist the temptation to be swayed by money or empty promises. They must think not just about their personal interests but about the future of the party and the state. By endorsing Oyebanji, they will not just be choosing continuity, they will be choosing certainty of victory. They will be aligning with the will of the people, which in politics, is the greatest weapon any party can wield.
Governor Oyebanji is not perfect. No leader is. But he has done enough to earn a second term. He has built schools, upgraded hospitals, paid salaries, constructed roads, empowered youths, boosted agriculture, expanded digital opportunities, and maintained peace. More importantly, he has earned the trust and love of the people. That is something you cannot buy. That is social capital. And it is the APC’s biggest asset heading into the next election. To waste it would be unforgivable.
So let the party be wise. Let the delegates be wise. Let them resist distractions and face the reality that is before them. The reality is that Oyebanji is not just the people’s choice, he is the party’s surest path to victory. The endorsements flooding in are not noise; they are signals of what the electorate wants. To ignore them is to ignore the voice of the people. And any party that ignores the people is preparing for defeat.
In the end, the choice is simple. The APC can either hold on to Oyebanji, consolidate on his achievements, and ride on the wave of his social capital to victory. Or it can gamble on an untested, unpopular candidate and risk losing everything. For the sake of Ekiti, for the sake of APC, and for the sake of democracy, the wise choice is continuity with Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji. Because in politics, as in life, when you have a winning formula, you don’t throw it away. You build on it. And that is exactly what APC must do now.
Idowu Ephraim Faleye|Freelance writer|Independent stories, Data-driven Insights.
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