Gov Fayemi’s protégé, Biodun Oyebanji, emerges Ekiti APC governorship candidate
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi’s “anointed candidate” and the immediate past Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Biodun Oyebanji, has emerged as the winner of the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship primary election.
The Governor’s protégé emerged the winner with 101,703 votes on Thursday, according to the Chairman of the APC primary election committee, and Governor of Jigawa State, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru.
Oyebanji defeated seven other aspirants who had earlier protested against the electoral process, and demanded for its cancellation.
The seven other aspirants had claimed, among others things, that Badaru, had handed Oyebanji’s supporters the result sheets to write the results before the election.
Gov Badaru however denied the claims insisting that the election took place in all the 177 electoral wards of the state and was “peaceful, credible and transparent.”
The seven aggrieved aspirants who protested the primary election process are: Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, Demola Popoola, Afolabi Oluwasola, Hon Femi Bamisile and Kayode Ojo.
The APC governorship candidate is a seasoned administrator who has served in at least three governments since Ekiti was created in 1996 by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.
Oyebanji served as the special adviser on parliamentary affairs in the administration of Niyi Adebayo, a former governor of Ekiti.
He was chief of staff to Kayode Fayemi, the incumbent governor, in his first term.
