President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s performance in office, telling Ekiti voters that the governor came into leadership fully prepared to serve the people.

Speaking ahead of the June 20 governorship election, Tinubu urged residents to re-elect Oyebanji for a second term.

The endorsement came on Tuesday at the All Progressives Congress mega rally in Ado-Ekiti. The venue was packed with party faithful, allies from other political groups, and supporters across religious and ethnic lines, all showing solidarity with Oyebanji’s re-election bid.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu praised Ekiti citizens for their loyalty to the APC over the years.

He described the state as fortunate to have Oyebanji at the helm of affairs, noting that the governor’s actions and policies prove that true leadership is about serving people, not oppressing them or undermining their rights.

Tinubu highlighted Oyebanji’s humility, patience, and respect for traditional rulers and past leaders, pointing out the absence of opposition posters across the state as a sign of Oyebanji’s wide acceptance.

“On Saturday, go out and re-elect this humble and peaceful man to further serve you better,” Shettima said on Tinubu’s behalf. The President then symbolically handed Oyebanji over to former governors and first ladies, urging them to secure victory for him.

Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, described Oyebanji’s popularity as electrifying.

Chairman of the APC Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, said the party’s visibility in Ekiti was unmatched. He noted that only the APC had campaigned market to market and house to house.

APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwadta, insisted the party’s confidence was rooted in Oyebanji’s connection to the people, not just in being the ruling party.

A visibly elated Governor Oyebanji, joined by his wife Dr Olayemi Oyebanji and Deputy Monisade Afuye, said he was not relying on federal might but on his record and the promises he kept since 2022.

He appealed for a peaceful election and promised that his second term would surpass the achievements of the last three and a half years.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has expressed confidence that Governor Biodun Oyebanji will win his election for a second term as Governor of Ekiti State at this Saturday polls.

Akpabio made the remarks on Tuesday at the capital city of Ado-Ekiti during the grand finale of the Governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state.

The rally was also attended by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the APC National Chairman and his team in the National Working Committee, dozens of federal lawmakers and many APC Governors.

Akpabio, who is the co-chairman of the APC National Campaign Council for the Ekiti Governorship poll, assured the people that he would support and work with the Governor until the victory is delivered on Saturday.

“I will support you. I will work with you until victory is delivered on the 20th of June, 2026,” Akpabio assured the Governor.

The Senate President said the people of Ekiti State are known for peace and urged them not to allow anyone to steal their peace by causing violence at the polls,.

The Senate President urged them not to stay back at home but come out early to cast their votes stressing that “we want to see the quantum of your votes so that we will know what you are going to give to Asiwaju in 2027.”

Akpabio explained that Governor Oyebanji was being supported because of his performance and humility.

“We have come to support not just a colleague but a performing colleague in the party. We have come to support a humble man and a man who believes in gender sensitivity, who has picked a woman as a deputy governor.

“We are here to support the women in Ekiti State. We have come to support performance in Ekiti State.

“Who would have thought that a man could unite all the former governors of Ekiti State. I have seen them here. Sometimes we don’t agree with them. Sometimes they are not even in the same party. But they are all here on the podium to support only one man. And the reason is because, that man is worthy of support,” Akpabio said.

Also speaking, Governor Oyebanji said he had kept to his campaign promises during the last election and made a further pledge to do more if re-elected for a second term of four years on Saturday.

“Close to four years ago, we entered into a contract that we will serve you. You can attest to the fact that with the help of God and the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,  we have served you well. 

“We have served you very well in the last three to four years. You can see what we have done. These are things you can see, you can feel and you can touch. And l make a pledge here today that we are ready to do more,” Governor Oyebanji said.

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has condemned a recent court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, warning that the decision could undermine Nigeria’s democracy and the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, James Ezema, the CNPP expressed concern over the ruling by Justice Peter Lifu affecting the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The umbrella body of political parties described the judgment as more than a legal dispute, saying it represents a direct threat to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, multiparty system, and citizens’ right to political participation.

The CNPP also questioned the reported involvement of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, alleging that his support for the suit has raised concerns about the neutrality of key democratic institutions.

According to the group, the development has strengthened public perceptions that opposition parties are being targeted and that political institutions may be under pressure to serve partisan interests ahead of the 2027 elections.

The CNPP argued that democracy cannot thrive where political competition is weakened through judicial or administrative actions rather than being determined by voters at the ballot box.

The organisation further alleged that the deregistration case reflects signs of “state capture”, a situation in which powerful political actors manipulate public institutions and regulatory agencies to achieve predetermined outcomes.

It warned that growing fears about the independence of electoral and judicial processes could erode public confidence in the fairness of future election petitions and electoral outcomes.

The group also expressed concern that Nigeria’s democratic structures are gradually losing substance, citing what it described as the marginalisation of opposition voices, weakened oversight institutions, and the increasing concentration of political power.

The CNPP called on Nigerians, civil society groups, labour unions, religious and traditional leaders, as well as the international community, to defend democratic values and political pluralism, insisting that Nigeria’s future must be decided by voters through free, fair, and competitive elections.