Oyebanji: A Look at His Time as Ekiti Governor

Governor Biodun Oyebanji took office on 16 October 2022. He won a tough election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) promise of "Continuity for Shared Prosperity." This was the first time since 1999 that a political party won two consecutive terms in Ekiti State after democracy returned to Nigeria.

Mr Oyebanji has been involved in government since 1999. He served in the Adeniyi Adebayo administration from 1999 to 2003 and worked under Governor Kayode Fayemi, his predecessor, as a commissioner and secretary to the state government. He only missed working in the administrations of Ayodele Fayose and Segun Oni.

Many believe he has enough experience for the job.

With about eight months remaining in his first term, some residents and party leaders have mixed feelings about key policies and achievements of his government over the past three and a half years.

In terms of road infrastructure, the Oyebanji government has done well. They have built several roads, including the 21km Ikere, Igbara Odo, 19.8km Ado, Iworoko, Ifaki Federal Road, and 19.2km Ikere, Igbara Odo. Other completed roads include the 17km Ring Road Phase I, Omu, Ijelu, Itapa, GRA Third Extension, Spotless Hotel Road, Ikole, Isinbode, and Ogotun, Ikogosi roads.

The administration also completed the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, which was started by the Fayemi government. This airport became fully operational in October 2025. The government also set aside 1,000 hectares for a permanent NAF facility to improve security and attract investors.

However, the government did not fund this project alone. Afe Babalola, a well-known lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, invested billions to help finish the airport. Mr Babalola believes the airport will improve access to both the university and the Multi-System Hospital.

Through the Oyebanji administration’s agricultural program, over 5,000 youths in the state are now engaged in commercial farming through cluster initiatives.

Taiwo Olatunbosun, the Commissioner for Information, said this initiative has greatly helped the state’s economy. He mentioned that Ekiti has the lowest food inflation rate, according to NBS statistics, due to the agricultural boost. He pointed out the food security project, including the Ilu Eye Aggregation Hub, which can store 750 MT of beans, 239 MT of rice paddy, 101 MT of maize, and 1,716 bags of garri. He also said that “Ounje Ekiti” is a retail outlet for affordable food located in Ado Ekiti.

In health, the government has renovated and equipped several hospitals and primary health centers across the state. The 80-bed EKSUTH facility was recently inaugurated.

In education, the government claims to have recruited over 2,000 teachers since it began. It has also spent ₦14 billion on 203 public secondary schools.

The government is providing free education from primary to senior secondary school and paying WAEC fees for students.

In terms of security, Mr Olatunbosun stated that the government has set up the RRS Building/Armoury and created the Agro Marshals Corps for the forests. Additionally, the state security outfit, Amotekun Corps, is funded to support federal security agencies.

Four fire stations are now operational in Ikere, Ijero, Ikole, and Omuo.

The APC spokesperson in the state, Segun Dipe, gave the Oyebanji administration an 80 percent rating, especially for road construction and aviation projects.

Mr Dipe praised the government for managing resources wisely, saying, “We run an open book. No project executed so far has been funded with loans.”

He added, “Ekiti now defines fiscal openness in Nigeria. BudgIT’s States Fiscal Transparency League placed Ekiti at 100/100 in Q4 2024 and kept it at the top through all four quarters of 2025, with a perfect 39 points in Q4 2025. The ranking recognized regular disclosure, quarterly Budget Implementation Reports, audited statements, and a functional E-Procurement Portal.

“BudgIT and Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative ranked Ekiti 1st for LGA budget transparency and audit efficacy. The state publishes individual 2026 budgets for all 16 LGAs and 22 LCDAs, each with signed PDFs, town hall minutes, and NCOA Excel templates. Only 10 states nationwide meet that standard.

“ICIR’s 2025 half-year review added another layer: Ekiti ranked 3rd nationally with 41.8% budget performance, reflecting discipline in execution.”

Another APC leader in the state, Bayo Olanipekun, also praised the government, especially for electricity supply.

Mr Olanipekun stated that over 60 communities that had been without power for 20 years are now connected to electricity.

He mentioned the 1.2km flyover named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which was recently opened by Vice President Kashim Shettima. He also noted the groundbreaking of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone Free Trade Zone, expected to create 12,000 jobs, as major projects.

Regarding workers’ welfare, Mr Olanipekun, a retired civil servant, said that workers have not had it this good since Oyebanji took office.

“Even though I am not the government spokesman, I know that over ₦90 billion has been spent on workers and pensioners since 2022, when Governor Oyebanji took charge,” he stated.

But the opposition is not impressed with the government's performance and rates it poorly.

Sanya Atofarati, the zonal publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), believes some roads were restored while others were constructed under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

RAAMP is a partnership between the Ekiti State Government and the World Bank to develop and upgrade rural roads for better agricultural output and food security.

Mr Atofarati called the airport a white elephant, saying it may not be used fully, like many airports in several states.

For the PDP candidate in Saturday’s election, Wole Oluyede, it is hard to find a single major project worthy of presidential commissioning in three years. He insists Mr Oyebanji does not deserve a second term based on current conditions.

He described the three and a half years the governor has spent in office as a waste, given the state’s huge resources and improved IGR.

Mr Oluyede stated that police stations “look like abandoned facilities” with no furniture or equipment to fight crime. He also noted that 16 church members from Ilejemeje have been held by kidnappers since their abduction in April.

“While other governors invite Tinubu to commission completed projects in Ogun, Lagos, Enugu, Imo, and Kaduna, Ekiti has become a cycle of courtesy visits and photo opportunities without real development.

“Ekiti is not better than it was a few years ago. The economy has declined, roads are worse, unemployment is higher, and people are less secure and less prosperous under this government,” the PDP candidate said.

A group called Ekiti Development Agenda (EDA) claims that despite increased funds to the state after the subsidy removal, there is little visible development to show for it. They argue that Mr Oyebanji has focused more on political connections than real progress.

According to Ademiluyi Bamisaye, the National Coordinator of EDA, voting for the governor for a second term could be a mistake for the state.