By Cyril Mbah, Abuja
Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of Ekiti State has again come under heavy criticism from within his own party as a group of All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders accused him of squandering resources and undermining loyal party members.
The latest attack came on Tuesday when a delegation led by Hon. Kola Adefemi, pioneer Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, stormed the APC National Secretariat to purchase the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for businessman and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Engr. Kayode Olubunmi Ojo.
Speaking to journalists after securing the forms, Adefemi launched a scathing attack on Governor Oyebanji, accusing him of wasting over three years in office without tangible development while frittering away billions of naira.
“Since assuming office, Governor Oyebanji has presided over what many describe as the systematic dismantling of the APC machinery that brought him to power. Instead of consolidating the party, his administration is marked by neglect, exclusion, and political insensitivity,” Adefemi declared.
The former lawmaker accused Oyebanji of alienating grassroots leaders and sidelining loyal APC members who worked tirelessly for his election. He alleged that over 100 key appointments had been handed to members of opposition parties, leaving committed party stalwarts in frustration.
“Ekiti people deserve working roads, functional clinics, and schools that educate—not intimidation and exclusion. More than ₦20 billion has been wasted on frivolous endorsements since he assumed office,” Adefemi alleged.
Positioning Engr. Kayode Ojo as an alternative, Adefemi described him as a tested leader with integrity and capacity. He noted that Ojo, who had previously contested the governorship in 2015 and 2022, has again joined the race to “rescue Ekiti from imminent collapse.”
According to him, “Today is a defining moment for the very soul of the APC. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the Ekiti governorship primary for October 27, 2025, and Engr. Ojo is stepping forward as the face of the Ekiti Rescue Mission.”
Adefemi contrasted Oyebanji’s performance with that of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who committed nearly ₦100 billion to rehabilitate bad federal roads rather than trade blames. He said while Governor Abiodun acted, Oyebanji failed despite receiving significant federal support.
He also recalled Ojo’s intervention as Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, where he facilitated repairs on the Ifaki–Ikole road, stressing that if Ojo could do that without state resources, he would do much more as governor.
“Leadership is about action, not excuses. Engr. Ojo has shown capacity and willpower, while Governor Oyebanji has shown only excuses and failures,” Adefemi insisted.