As the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State approaches, the political temperature is beginning to rise, with the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) trading words over the performance of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the political outlook ahead of the polls.
The SDP has accused Governor Oyebanji of underperforming across critical sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, security, employment, and tourism, describing his leadership as uninspiring and out of touch with the developmental aspirations of Ekiti people. In contrast, the APC has dismissed the criticisms as baseless, asserting that Oyebanji has recorded significant strides that have endeared him to the people of the state.
State Chairman of the SDP, Mr. Bamikole Ayodele, who spoke in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, said that the APC-led administration under Governor Oyebanji has failed to deliver tangible benefits to the people despite receiving substantial federal allocations.
“Governor Biodun Oyebanji has consistently failed to fulfill his campaign promises to the people of Ekiti. The level of infrastructural decay across the state is alarming. There is hardly any project of significant value that this administration can point to as a concrete achievement,” Ayodele alleged.
He added, “The governor appears more focused on politics than governance. Rather than utilize the resources of the state judiciously, we are seeing misplacement of priorities. Ekiti is blessed with vast arable land, yet agriculture is left in a deplorable state. There is no single functional farm settlement with basic amenities to attract and retain our teeming unemployed graduates.”
Ayodele further criticized the state of security, insisting that the government has not done enough to safeguard residents and farmers from kidnappers and criminals who, he claimed, operate freely in rural communities.
“Our people cannot farm safely or even travel without fear. This is unacceptable. Oyebanji must realize he is not the governor of the APC but the governor of Ekiti State. Opportunities such as employment and empowerment should not be distributed based on party loyalty but on merit and inclusiveness,” the SDP chairman declared.
He expressed confidence that the SDP would present a credible alternative in the 2026 election, stating that the current administration’s shortcomings have made the task of unseating the APC achievable.
However, in a swift response, the APC dismissed the SDP’s claims as “empty rhetoric from a party seeking relevance.” The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Segun Dipe, described the opposition party as “moribund” and incapable of mounting a serious electoral challenge.
According to Dipe, “The SDP is only making noise because they know they are not on the ground. Governor Oyebanji has done remarkably well in all critical sectors. From infrastructure to agriculture, security to job creation, and even tourism, his performance speaks for itself.”
He continued, “You may not see much construction work going on now due to the rainy season, but go to the hinterlands — to places like Ijesa Isu — and you will see newly rehabilitated roads and electricity projects. Communities that were in darkness for years now have power restored. These are concrete achievements.”
Dipe insisted that Oyebanji’s popularity has soared due to his performance, adding that Ekiti residents have continued to express their satisfaction and are calling for him to seek re-election.
“The voice of the people is the voice of God. And the people are saying that Governor Oyebanji has done well. It is laughable that a party like the SDP, which lacks structure and visibility, is claiming it will unseat the APC in 2026. They have not even started any serious political activity and are already talking of winning an election,” Dipe said.
He urged the SDP to focus on reorganizing its internal structures and presenting a meaningful policy alternative rather than “engaging in media propaganda.”
“As far as we are concerned, the SDP does not pose a threat. If the 2026 contest is between us and the SDP, we will not lose sleep,” the APC spokesman concluded.
With the exchange of brickbats intensifying between the two parties, political observers say the battle for the soul of Ekiti in 2026 is already shaping up to be a fierce one, even as other parties continue to watch from the sidelines. How the political landscape evolves in the coming months may determine whether the APC retains its grip on power or if the SDP can galvanize enough support to stage a major upset.
