Oyebanji’s political gamble and Ekiti’s brewing tensions
By Idowu Adebomi, Ado Ekiti
Ekiti politics has long carried a reputation for intensity, a legacy that can be traced back to the dramatic build-up to the 2003 governorship elections. The contest between incumbent Otunba Niyi Adebayo of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Chief Peter Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains etched in the state’s memory. Fayose, in his typically combative style, reportedly confronted Adebayo’s convoy during the campaign season, challenging the sitting governor to a showdown. That incident, along with other widely reported episodes, seemed to usher in an era of political brinkmanship that has shaped the state’s electoral culture.
Fayose himself often boasted on television and radio that no one within the PDP could rival him for the party ticket. When his chief challenger, Ayodele Daramola of Ijan, was assassinated, suspicion fell heavily on Fayose, despite his tears and the bounty he placed on the perpetrators. The killing marked a turning point, and Fayose’s grip on power was soon severed.
Since then, Ekiti has seen power swing repeatedly, with internal party rifts and federal political dynamics shaping outcomes. Fayemi’s victory through the courts and Fayose’s failed bid to elevate his deputy as successor both stand in contrast to the relatively smooth elections of Adebayo and the current governor, Biodun Oyebanji. For Oyebanji, this season marks his first true baptism of fire in politics, a stark departure from his previously untroubled rise.
August has been particularly turbulent for the governor, whose second-term ambition has been shaken by the formidable challenge posed by Kayode Ojo. A wave of defections by key allies, commissioners, and confidants appears to have rattled Oyebanji, prompting a late-night political manoeuvre: the sweeping dissolution of his cabinet, sparing only the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun.
The shake-up, still fresh in the public consciousness, was soon overshadowed by a viral video of the governor delivering a hardline message to his party. Oyebanji reportedly instructed local party executives and council chairmen to shut their doors to any candidate other than himself. He also warned that those unwilling to defend his administration on social media would face consequences in due time.
The video ignited nationwide outrage, handing opposition parties ammunition to paint the governor as intolerant. The situation escalated further when violence broke out in parts of the state. Two Kayode Ojo supporters were assaulted in Ikere Ekiti by alleged Oyebanji loyalists, their injuries recorded on video and circulated widely. Another man was later shot in the legs and appeared in a video accusing APC chieftains Chief Bosun Osaloni and Mrs Tosin Aluko of orchestrating the attack because of his defection to Ojo’s camp.
While Mrs Aluko denied involvement and vowed legal action, the attacks intensified public scrutiny of Oyebanji’s leadership style. Critics say the violence worsened following his incendiary remarks.
In a statewide broadcast, Oyebanji appealed for peace, echoing former President Goodluck Jonathan’s famous declaration that “no one’s blood is worth his ambition.” However, the reality is that blood has already been spilled, even if fatalities have so far been avoided.
Observers argue that the governor must now demonstrate statesmanship in this delicate period, acting as a father figure for Ekiti’s diverse political landscape, regardless of religious, ethnic, or party affiliations. His combative tone, they warn, could alienate voters rather than consolidate support.
Some critics have drawn on Igbo proverbs to describe the paradox of his recent behaviour, likening him to a mouse that nibbles a person’s toes while blowing gently on the wound to mask the pain. They argue that the governor cannot simultaneously stoke political tensions and preach peace.
Assurances of safety and fairness will require more than speeches, as political consensus is rarely absolute. Even within his own family, observers note, there may be dissenting votes if the election were held behind closed doors.
To regain public trust, Oyebanji might do well to heed the wisdom found in Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God. In one scene, Akubue advises Ezeulu, reprimanding Obika for his drunkenness: “As a great man with a large compound, you should know you will have different children: some cool, some hot, some to build, and some to scatter. There is no drum you beat in the compound of a great man that will not find a dancer.”
That parable remains relevant to Ekiti’s charged political season. Leadership, especially in a state with a storied history of electoral upheaval, demands restraint, humility, and an understanding that a governor’s compound is never free from discord.