By Olumide Akomolafe
+2347065957373
The political atmosphere in Ekiti State is changing quietly, yet profoundly. With the 2026 governorship election looming on the horizon, subtle moves are being made, new alliances are forming, and old friendships are being tested. Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, who rose to power in 2022 under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC), may soon face the most significant political challenge of his career—not from the opposition, but from within his own camp.
While Oyebanji remains governor and enjoys the official privileges that come with that office, the real struggle ahead may not be fought on the streets or in the media. It will be fought within the political power circles that determine who stays in power and who gets replaced. And if current signs are anything to go by, there is reason to believe that his hold on power beyond 2026 is far from guaranteed.
At the center of this shifting political terrain is Kayode Ojo, a wealthy businessman, engineer, and former APC governorship aspirant. In 2022, he was one of the strongest contenders in the APC primary, and although he stepped aside at the time, many within and outside the party have not forgotten his influence. Since then, Ojo has kept a low profile, but political watchers say he has been rebuilding his network quietly and strategically. Now, his name is being mentioned more frequently across local government areas and within key APC structures.
More significantly, there is growing speculation that Kayode Ojo may be aligning himself with top national figures, possibly even those close to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Though there has been no official confirmation, the frequency with which Ojo is mentioned in association with influential political operators around the presidency is too consistent to ignore. Whether these claims are true or not, the perception is spreading, and in politics, perception can become reality very quickly.
This leads to an uncomfortable question that many insiders are now whispering in private: Is Governor Oyebanji still the preferred option for the APC power bloc going into 2026?
Governor Oyebanji came into office with the full backing of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, a man whose influence over Ekiti politics remains deeply rooted. In 2022, Fayemi was the engine behind Oyebanji’s candidacy, using his extensive political structure and national connections to ensure the APC retained control of the state. At the time, Fayemi was the bridge between the national party and the state, and that bridge delivered results.
However, three years down the line, the relationship between Fayemi and Oyebanji appears to be cooling. Many of Fayemi’s trusted political allies have reportedly been sidelined in the current administration. This development has left a gap in the internal cohesion that once defined the Ekiti APC. If this situation continues, and Fayemi’s loyalists become alienated, Oyebanji may lose the grassroots political machinery that once worked tirelessly for his victory.
Political survival in Ekiti has never been about position alone. It has always been about structure. Fayemi’s political structure remains one of the most organized and disciplined in Ekiti’s history. If that structure chooses to support another candidate in 2026—possibly Kayode Ojo or someone else—then the road to reelection becomes extremely steep for the incumbent.
Equally crucial is the role of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In 2022, Tinubu was a presidential aspirant fighting to build nationwide support. Governors like Oyebanji were valuable allies in that phase. But the game has changed. Tinubu is now president, and his attention has shifted from building alliances to consolidating power for the 2027 general election. Every state governor under the APC will be expected to serve as a loyal extension of that plan.
The question is whether Oyebanji is considered part of that inner circle. Some believe he is yet to fully position himself as one of Tinubu’s key lieutenants. Others believe Tinubu may favor a more visibly loyal or strategically connected figure to take charge in Ekiti—particularly someone who will help reinforce the APC’s national agenda ahead of 2027.
This is where Kayode Ojo comes back into the picture. Ojo is being increasingly viewed as someone who could represent a fresh chapter for the APC in Ekiti. With his growing acceptance among the elite and grassroots, and with potential federal alignment, he could emerge as the dark horse that political heavyweights rally behind. If Tinubu’s camp leans in his direction, even subtly, it could tip the balance dramatically against the sitting governor.
Of course, it must be said that Abiodun Oyebanji has not performed poorly in office. His leadership style is calm, focused, and modest. He has maintained peace in the state, continued some key infrastructure works, and avoided needless controversies. But elections are not always won on performance. They are won on relationships, political debt, loyalty, and perception.
Right now, those critical pillars are beginning to shake. His relationship with Fayemi is no longer as vibrant. His grip on the APC structure in Ekiti is being quietly challenged. His standing with the national leadership is uncertain. And a bold, wealthy, politically ambitious Kayode Ojo is moving with the precision of someone preparing for a major contest.
There is also growing unease among the political class in Ekiti. Many party leaders are worried about being left out of Oyebanji’s decision-making process. Some say the government has become too centered around a few individuals. Others complain that there has been little reward for their loyalty since 2022. These feelings are not being voiced loudly yet, but they are spreading—and they can easily turn into protest votes when the time comes.
As things stand, the only reason Governor Abiodun Oyebanji may lose in 2026 is not because he has failed the people. It will be because he may lose the critical support of those who matter most in determining who carries the APC flag. In Ekiti, politics is not won on the street. It is won in the rooms where strategy is drafted, and in the minds of those who control the political machinery.
The governor still has time to correct the course. But if he continues to ignore the subtle shifts in power, the quiet defections in loyalty, and the rise of a new political alternative in Kayode Ojo, then he may be walking straight into the history books as yet another one-term governor.
