Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has set a target of securing at least 80 per cent of registered voters’ support for President Bola Tinubu in the January 2027 presidential election, calling on All Progressives Congress (APC) members to intensify grassroots mobilisation across the state.
The governor made the call on Thursday at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti during the inauguration of the state chapter of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, where 25 campaign vehicles were presented to support Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
The movement, convened by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, aims to build support for the President through direct engagement with voters in communities across the country.
Oyebanji urged APC leaders and members to reach undecided voters and strengthen engagement at the grassroots, saying the party’s success would depend on its ability to mobilise people to vote.
He also warned against voter apathy, asking campaigners to identify people with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) who did not participate in previous elections and encourage them to turn out in January.
The governor said Ekiti should demonstrate its appreciation for the support it had received from the Tinubu administration by delivering a strong result for the President.
He argued that federal support had contributed to his administration’s development efforts and that continued cooperation between the state and federal governments was important for sustaining ongoing projects.
Recalling the APC’s performance in the last governorship election, Oyebanji challenged party members to translate their support at the state level into votes for Tinubu.
“This is a big challenge to us in Ekiti State. If someone from the Niger Delta can put up this structure, and as of today, they have visited 19 states and are still going to visit other states before the end of the campaign, then I challenge all of us here to support the President with our votes in January.
“I have always said that in our 30 years as a state, there has been no President who has been as fair and supportive to Ekiti as President Tinubu.
“We are extremely grateful, and we assure you that your investment in Ekiti State will not be in vain. I assure you that Ekiti will perform well and record an outstanding result in January. We are grateful for your visit and support, and we assure you that the vehicles will be deployed in a manner that will also support the work we are doing here,” the governor said.
Earlier, Ekpemupolo said the donation of 25 vehicles was intended to strengthen the movement’s grassroots campaign and extend its message to communities across Ekiti and other parts of Nigeria.
Represented by the movement’s Grand Patron, High Chief Kestin Pondi, Ekpemupolo called on Nigerians to support Tinubu for a second term, arguing that the administration needed more time to consolidate its economic reforms.
He claimed the reforms had improved the financial capacity of state governments, enabling them to pay workers’ salaries and pensions and execute development projects.
Ekpemupolo cited ongoing projects in Ekiti as evidence of increased resources available to the state government, attributing the development to Tinubu’s economic policies.
He said governors in the 19 states already visited by the movement had also highlighted improvements in their ability to meet financial obligations and implement projects.
The convener argued that major economic reforms required time to deliver their full benefits and called for continuity beyond the current administration’s first term.
He also challenged other political aspirants seeking public office to explain how their proposed programmes would improve Nigerians’ lives compared with the policies being implemented by Tinubu.
Ekpemupolo urged APC leaders at the federal, state and local government levels to work together and ensure that the donated vehicles were effectively deployed for the movement’s campaign activities.
The event was attended by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye; Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye; APC State Chairman Sola Eleshin; members of the House of Assembly; and party stakeholders from the state’s 16 local government areas.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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