ZENITH LABOUR PARTY GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE STEPS DOWN FOR GOVERNOR OYEBANJI.

ZENITH LABOUR PARTY GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE STEPS DOWN FOR GOVERNOR OYEBANJI.

Governorship Candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Adetunji Victor Damilola, has stepped down for Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).   

Shortly after making public his decision to step down for the Governor, the Zenith Labour Party’s candidate visited Governor Oyebajji , accompanied by the state Vice chairman of the party, Ayo Ipinlaye and Secretary, Aladeyelu Sehinde Damilola.    

He was received by Governor Oyebanji in company with the visiting Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas.  

The ZLP candidate cited Governor Oyebanji’s impactful governance and commitment to excellence as reason for stepping down for the incumbent governor.

The Candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Joseph Anifowose, had last month stepped down for Governor Oyebanji while the State working committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) last week announced their decision to work for the reelection of Governor Oyebanji, urging all its members to vote enmasse for the Governor.

Ekiti APC primary dispute: Appeal Court affirms Oyebanji's candidacy.

Ekiti APC primary dispute: Appeal Court affirms Oyebanji's candidacy.

...Dismisses Olawumi's Appeal for being incompetent.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the candidacy of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State in the forthcoming governorship election as it dismissed the appeal by a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Abimbola Olawumi who challenged the outcome of the party's primary.

In a unanimous judgment on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, held that the appeal filed by Mrs. Olawumi was incompetent.

The Court of Appeal found that the appellant's brief of argument was filed in contravention of the court's rules, having exceeded the numbers allowed and proceeded to hold that the appeal was unsupported by any arguments and therefore incompetent.

Justice Banjoko, who read the lead judgment, allowed the objection raised by the respondents - the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Governor Oyebanji to the competence of  the appellant's brief of argument, filed on April 30.

The judge held that Mrs. Olawumi's brief violated Paragraph 14(a) of the Electoral Proceedings Practice Direction 2023.

She held that the brief, having been filed in violation of the court's rules, is incompetent and liable to be struck out.

Justice Banjoko further held that with the appellant'a brief struck out, the appeal becomes unsupported with any arguments, making it incompetent as well and liable to be dismissed.

She rejected the appellant's request that the court invokes its power under Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act to activate its trial jurisdiction to hear the case on the merit on the grounds that the substance of the case revolves around the the internal screening and eligibility process of the party.

Justice Banjoko held that Mrs. Olawumi's case would have also failed even if her brief was not incompetent because issues in dispute are internal affairs of the political party and the suit statute barred, having been filed out of time as found by the trial court.

She dismissed the appeal and upheld part of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja which earlier held among others, that the suit was filed out of time, that issues raised were not justiciable and that Oyebanji was duly nominated to contest the June 20 governorship election as the candidate of the APC.

The Court of Appeal allowed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Oyebanji to challenge part of the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered by Justice Peter Lifu.

Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi, who read the lead judgment, held among others, that the trial judge was in error when he found that the first cross respondent (Mrs. Olawumi) was an aspirant.

She resolved the sole issue identified for determination against the Mrs. Olawumi and set aside the finding by the trial judge that she is an aspirant within the contemplation of the constitution and electoral act 2022.

#EkitiDecides2026: SA on Hausa Matters, Bawa Husseini rallies Ekiti Hausa Community for Oyebanji’s Re-election.

#EkitiDecides2026: SA on Hausa Matters, Bawa Husseini rallies Ekiti Hausa Community for Oyebanji’s Re-election.

Ahead of Saturday's highly anticipated governorship election in Ekiti State, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Hausa Matters, Hon. Hussein Isiaka Bawa, has taken the re-election campaign of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) to the grassroots of the Hausa community across major markets and hubs in the state capital.

In a series of strategic mobilization meetings held on Wednesday, Hon. Husseini engaged community members and traders at key locations, including Oja Oba, Shasha BAO Market (Agric Olope), Shasha Market (Fagbohun), and Sabo Lekeleke.

Addressing the large gatherings, the Special Assistant urged the Hausa population in Ekiti to turn out in large numbers to cast their votes for Governor Oyebanji, emphasizing that the current administration has demonstrated an unprecedented level of inclusivity and fairness to non-indigenous communities.

 "Governor Biodun Oyebanji has proven himself to be a leader for all residents of Ekiti State, regardless of ethnic background," Husseini stated. "His administration has consistently carried the Hausa community along in governance, policy-making, and welfare."

Husseini further assured the community that a second term for the incumbent governor would guarantee even greater economic opportunities, empowerment programs, and structural representation for the Hausa population within the coming administration.

The community leaders and traders at the various markets expressed their appreciation for the Governor’s continuous support and promised a robust turnout at the polls on June 20 to secure BAO’s continuity in office.

OJUAWO RALLIES APC MEMBERS, URGES MASSIVE SUPPORT FOR BAO AHEAD OF GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION.

OJUAWO RALLIES APC MEMBERS, URGES MASSIVE SUPPORT FOR BAO AHEAD OF GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION.

Ahead of Saturday's governorship election, Hon. (AVM Rtd.) Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo met with party members and supporters in Ise/Orun Local Government at his residence in Orun-Ekiti, where he charged them to come out en masse and vote for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO), insisting that there is no alternative to his re-election.

By 9:00 a.m. yesterday, the Ojuawo residence was filled to capacity with party faithful and supporters who had gathered eagerly to hear from their leader as the election draws near. The meeting was attended by the APC Chairman in Ise/Orun Local Government, Hon. Dare Idowu, who expressed appreciation to party members for their resilience, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to the party's activities and programmes.

Addressing the gathering, Hon. Dare Idowu said: “I must commend you all for your steadfastness and unwavering commitment to the party. Ordinarily, I should have convened this meeting earlier, but I wanted our Member of the House of Representatives to be present, which informed the delay. I am confident that we will emerge victorious on Saturday. I encourage everyone to arrive at their polling units early and conduct themselves peacefully throughout the voting process.

“I also urge our elderly members to seek assistance from APC agents at the polling units whenever necessary. The law permits such assistance, and our agents are there to guide and support voters. Our leader knows the way, and we shall continue to follow and support him. Our political appointees are absent today because they are currently in Ado-Ekiti attending a meeting with Mr. Governor.”

In his remarks, the host, Hon. Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, thanked party members for their steadfast belief in Governor Oyebanji despite the challenges encountered along the way.

“I must commend our party executives, led by our chairman, Hon. Dare Idowu, popularly known as Tugere, alongside other executive members, women leaders, youth leaders, and ward leaders for the tremendous work they have done in mobilising support for our party ahead of Saturday’s election.

“I equally appreciate every member for standing firmly behind our hardworking and performing Governor. We must ensure that every member of our household votes for BAO on Saturday. The responsibility does not rest on party members alone. As you return home today, tell your family members, neighbours, and friends that Ise/Orun is solidly behind BAO, and we must demonstrate this with our votes.

“It will be my pleasure to see a ward and polling unit in Ise/Orun emerge as the highest-voting ward and unit respectively, and I remain committed to fulfilling my earlier promise of ₦2 million and ₦500,000 rewards. As always, I will continue to support the party and its members. We must not allow a few disgruntled elements to divide or distract us. We are one united family in Ise/Orun, and I appeal to all of you to ensure that our votes reflect that unity and strength on Saturday,” Ojuawo charged the party faithful.

The meeting ended with renewed optimism and a collective resolve among party members to work tirelessly for the re-election of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji in Saturday’s governorship election.

OJUAWO MEDIA TEAM

Eso-Obe LCDA Chairman Ayeni Empowers 200 Constituents with Business Tools, Backs Gov Oyebanji’s Re-election Campaign.

Eso-Obe LCDA Chairman Ayeni Empowers 200 Constituents with Business Tools, Backs Gov Oyebanji’s Re-election Campaign.

In a major boost to local economic development and grassroots political mobilization, the Executive Chairman of Eso-Obe Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Moses Ayeni Bankole, has empowered 250 constituents with vital business assets and financial support. The massive empowerment program, held at the LCDA Secretariat, was designed to support the re-election campaign of Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, by directly complementing the state government’s community-focused initiatives.

The event, which drew a large crowd of community leaders and beneficiaries, was attended by top traditional figures. The Olukoro of Ikoro-Ekiti, Oba Dr. Olarewaju Adebanji Adeleye, was represented by his wife, Eyesorun Veronica Iyabo Adeleye. 

Speaking on behalf of the Kabiesi, Eyesorun Adeleye commended the LCDA Chairman and the state government for their relentless efforts in uplifting the people. She declared that the entire Ikoro community has unanimously resolved to vote overwhelmingly for Governor Oyebanji in the upcoming Saturday election to ensure a victory by a massive margin, while appealing to the state government to sustain its developmental strides in the next dispensation.

A wide array of items was distributed to over 50 artisans and farmers during the event, including generators, solar lights, sewing machines, hair clippers, hair dryers, grinding machines, and agricultural sprayers. Additionally, Hon. Ayeni announced financial support for 150 people, while his wife, Mrs. Ayeni Olayinka Adunni, supplemented the initiative by distributing food materials to aged women across the local council area. A key highlight of the intervention is the "Operation Light the Farmstead" initiative, which will see solar electrification panels installed across various farm settlements in the Eso-Obe axis to boost agricultural productivity and security.

According to Hon. Ayeni, who is also the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ijero Constituency House of Assembly in the 2027 election, the gesture is aimed at giving back to the community, boosting local businesses, and appreciating farmers and Artisans for their unwavering support. He noted that this marks his fourth major intervention, having previously organized "Back to School" empowerment programs for primary and secondary school students. Echoing this sentiment, the Secretary of the LCDA, Hon. Aremu Olaitan, stated that the local government is committed to making life more meaningful for the populace and complementing the Governor’s overarching vision for Ekiti State.

Beneficiaries at the event expressed profound gratitude and optimism ahead of the weekend polls. Mr. Ojo Temitope, an aluminum fabricator who received a generator, noted that the equipment would significantly enhance his productivity and affirmed his readiness to support the government. Similarly, hairdressers Mrs. Alade Adeola and Mrs. Ajewole Bola Mary expressed immense joy, stating that the new hair dryers and tools would instantly elevate their businesses. With enthusiasm running high, Hon. Ayeni assured that the upcoming Saturday election would deliver a resounding victory for Governor Oyebanji, describing the empowerment as definitive proof of a people-oriented administration.

Olawunmi loses bid to arrest judgment in Ekiti APC governorship primary dispute.

Olawunmi loses bid to arrest judgment in Ekiti APC governorship primary dispute.

….Appeal Court dismisses her application for being time wasting.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an application filed by a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs Abimbola Olajumoke Olawumi with which she had sought to arrest the judgment of the court in an appeal she filed.

A three-member panel of the appellate court held, in a unanimous ruling on Wednesday afternoon, that the application, filed for Olawumi by her lawyer, Ebun Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), was not only strange, it was "hopeless, reckless and constituted an unpardonable abuse of the judicial process."

Justice Okon Abang, who read the lead judgment, held that it was strange that Mrs. Olawumi would approach the court with an application to seek the reopening of her appeal that had been heard and judgment reserved on the grounds that she has got a new lawyer and wanted to amend her brief of argument that had beed adopted by her earlier lawyer.

Justice Abang noted that the appellant/applicant was present in court on June 2 when her substantive appeal was heard along with an application she filed for leave to regularise her brief of argument, with ruling and judgment reserved.

He said it was strange that after participating in the hearing of the her application and appeal, she claimed to have fired her lawyer, Chief Ayotunde Ogunleye (SAN) and engaged Adegboruwa, who sought to have the appeal reopened for her to amend the appellant's brief which she claimed was beyond the number of pages allowed by the court's rules.

Justice Abang, who held that Olawumi should not be heard to raise issue of fair hearing, having witnessed the court's proceedings in which she was represented by lawyers, said there is nowhere the laws under which the appellant/applicant filed her appeal that allow for the filing of the kind of application she brought.

The judge held that since she was present on June 2 and was represented by a lawyer when the appeal and application were heard, Mrs. Olawumi could not turn around to engage a new lawyer, file an application to set aside the proceedings of the court that were lawfully conducted, and apply for the reopening of the appeal.

He said: "The appellant/applicant cannot seek to argue her appeal in piecemeal. The application by Ebun Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), to arrest the judgement, is a joke taken too far. 

"There is no basis to set aside the proceedings, stay proceedings or reopen the appeal. The appellant, on her own, engaged a counsel of her choice.

"Her application to regularise her brief was heard and ruling reserved. She has been given sufficient opportunity to conduct her apppel. She cannot complain of denial of fair hearing.

"She cannot, in indecent haste, engage a new lawyer when judgment in her appeal has not been delivered," Justice Abang said, adding that she should not anticipate the court's judgment, but should await the court's final decision on her appeal.

The judge further held that "this is a clear attempt to arrest the ruling and judgment of the court that have been reserved. This cannot take place under our watch."

He said the application, apart from being time wasting, was intended to overreach the defendants, noting that issues canvassed in it were similar to those in her application on which ruling was reserved.

Justice Abang proceeded to declare that: "This application lacks merit. It is an abuse of the process of court and a waste of the court precious time. It is dismissed."

He then awarded against Olawumi, a cost of N6million to be paid at N2million to each of the three respondents - the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State.

It was learnt on Wednesday that the ruling and judgment, reserved by the Court of Appeal in the appeal filed by Olawumi, marked: CA/ABJ/CV/557/2026 would be delivered at 11 am on Thursday.

Mrs. Olawumi was a governorship aspirant of the APC, but was disqualified by the party, a decision she challenged before the Federal High Court in Abuja and lost. She subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The Court of Appeal heard the appeal and other pending applications on June 2 and reserved ruling and judgment to a date to be communicated to parties.

Before the appellate court could communicate the date for ruling and judgment to parties, Olawumi filed an application on June 8 through Adegboruwa, praying the court to among others, set aside the proceedings conducted on June 2, reopen the appeal for rehearing and to enable her amend her appellant's brief of argument.

It was the application that the Court of Appeal described as strange and a waste of time in its ruling on Wednesday.

SHETTIMA ENLISTS EKITI OBAS' SUPPORT FOR OYEBANJI'S VICTORY AHEAD SATURDAY’S GUBER POLL.

SHETTIMA ENLISTS EKITI OBAS' SUPPORT FOR OYEBANJI'S VICTORY AHEAD SATURDAY’S GUBER POLL.

The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, has enlisted the support of the traditional rulers in Ekiti State towards ensuring victory for  Governor Biodun Oyebanji in  Saturday's governorship election. 

Speaking during an interactive session with the monarchs under the aegis of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers at Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, the Vice President said the support of the royal fathers would be needed by Oyebanji to achieve a historic back-to-back victory for the first time in the state's political history.

Shettima said the assemblage of top echelon of governance in Nigeria which he led to Ekiti State to canvass votes for Oyebanji at the All Progressives Congress (APC) final mega rally showed the seriousness which the party attached to the Ekiti governorship poll.

The Vice President said "the whole Nigeria is assembled here (Ekiti)" l led, on behalf of the President, a delegation that included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, 15 APC governors, Senators, House of Representatives members, ministers, APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, senior party leaders and other political office holders at the federal level.”

He stressed that President Bola Tinubu holds Ekiti in high esteem which accounted for his magnanimity in ensuring that indigenes of the state occupy key positions in his administration including the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede; Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr Dele Alake; Managing Director of Federal Housing Authority, Hon Oyetunde Ojo and Chairman of South West Development Commission, Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi.

Shettima emphasized that the APC would not be complacent and would work hard for victory for Oyebanji noting that the Obas' support would be needed because of their influence in their domains, their visibility in the grassroots and their value in achieving the desired victory for the incumbent governor and his party.

The Vice President recalled that Ekiti's result for the 2023 presidential election was the first to be declared in the whole federation with President Tinubu garnering 201,494 votes representing 67 percent of the total votes cast which had been declared for over 24 hours before results from other states started coming in and served as a mark of affection by the Ekiti people for the President and his party.

Describing security as a continuous process, Shettima enjoined the Obas to be more watchful and be involved in intelligence gathering to assist the security agencies in defeating insecurity and fostering peace building in their domains.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, who described Oyebanji as a good material to showcase praised Tinubu for his support to the Governor which had made him to achieve monumental success in transforming the state to the ad iration of all.

Oba Alagbado, who is the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti said "the Kabiyesis are in total support of the governor" also reiterated their support for the re-election aspiration of Tinubu expressing confidence that both Ekiti governorship election and the 2027 general elections would be peaceful.