- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
The leadership and members of Social Democratic Party, SDP) Ekiti State Chapter has endorsed the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as their sole flagbearer for the June 20 governorship election come Saturday.
Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday at a press briefing, the SDP Chairman in Ekiti State, Hon. Ayodele Bamikole described the step as a right decision not taken in hasty situation.
His words: “Our endorsement of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and his Deputy was not an hasty decision. It was after an extensive consultation and deliberation with relevant stakeholders in the state, now in clear having assessed all candidates running for the guber seat, we have no doubt to openly declare as follows:
“That on behalf of all members of SDP in the state. I formally enthusiastically endorse His Excellency the Executive Governor of Ekiti, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and Mrs. Monisade Afuye in their bid to seek re-election for the second term in office as Governor and Deputy.
He described governor Boidun Oyebannji an exceptional and transparent leader whose tenure has brought unprecedented to the state. “The Governor has demonstrated exceptional leadership, transparency in his tenure as Governor has brought transformative and developmental projects to the State that are directly benefiting the state.
“Continuity is very crucial to ensure that the ongoing developmental stride reach their full potential, as a party, we openly declare to support our Omoluabi Governor with 25,000 votes comes this Saturday the 20th of June, 2026. Once again Mr. Governor, congratulation in advance.
According to him, it’s a day to remember in Ekiti State. “It’s a day to be remembered standing before the general public and leaders of our party, reinstating our commitment to serving you as the Chairman of the party in the state having given us your trust by electing me as Congress Chairman and other executives on January 6 and 7 consecutively 2025.
“Notwithstanding, running the affairs of the Party had been enmeshed with crises and factionalization from people who are agents of destabilization from across board (The National and at the State level).
“Today, as party we want to expressly state here that we will not be distracted in serving you, delivering on our promises, till we see our Pharaoh no more.
“Its worthy of note, to state to the public to be watchful of some miscreants that claim to be members of the party but that are not in our Party Register as member. Yesterday the 17 of June, 2026. This agents of destabilization led by one Temitope Olofin accompanied by an imposter, Isaac Adedayo Alade who claim to be a governorship candidate of our party in their dream and also on board was one Mrs. Kemi Akinyemi from Ise-Ekiti.
“This set of people invaded the party facility here yesterday with dangerous weapon and forcefully entered in to the office and carted away some party official materials away. We therefore bring to notice of all security agencies in the State. The Inspector General Police and all that matters, to bring to book to serve as deterrent to them to prevent future occurrences.
“On the Saturday Gubernatorial race, the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) published on their website the name of the party candidate, Otunba Dr. Peter Olugbenga Obafemi. But for the purpose of the media and political gladiators to know the state of things why the party took her decision to jointly throw our weight to other candidate of other political party.
“Ever since Otunba Dr. Peter Obafemi secured the party ticket through a substitution primary there had not been any meaningful contribution to the party. A candidate who never one day had any meaningful engagement with the party at all levels from the ward to the State, till today no meeting with him, no poster, no billboard, not to talk of any campaign activities.
He described the party as a formidable and structure one. “SDP is a large and serious political party with formidable structures across board, the last gubernatorial election in the state shows the strength of the party by securing about 84,000 votes to emerge as runner up in 2022”.
“We repeat it again that our endorsement of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and his Deputy was not an hasty decision. It was after an extensive consultation and deliberation with relevant stakeholders in the state, now in clear having assessed all candidates running for the guber seat, we have no doubt to openly declare for his endorsement because he has demonstrated exceptional leadership, transparency in his tenure as Governor has greatly brought transformative and developmental projects to the State that are directly benefiting the state, Hon. Bamikole concluded.
