Ido/Osi Isokan Turned Rally into Political Carnival, Pledged 100% Vote as Usi PDP Collapsed into APC
Ogidiolu Alaro thrilled the the crowd
If anyone had advised Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji not to attend the Ido/Osi Isokan campaign rally, and he had accepted such advice, he would have missed one of the most electrifying, colourful and politically reassuring moments of his re-election campaign.
For what happened at the Open Arcade, Orin/Ora Junction, was more than a campaign. It was a carnival of loyalty, a festival of mobilisation, a harvest of political realignment and a thunderous declaration that Ido/Osi Isokan is ready to go all out for BAO and MCA.
The Ido/Osi Isokan Campaign Council assured the Governor and his Deputy, Chief Mrs Monisade Christianah Afuye, of overwhelming victory in the forthcoming governorship election, pledging to deliver 100 per cent votes for the BAO/MCA ticket in the council area.
The campaign ground wore the colour, rhythm and excitement of a carnival as party leaders, community stakeholders, women groups, youth organisations, traditional supporters, political office holders, aspirants and grassroots mobilisers turned out in large numbers to receive the Governor and his campaign team.
The entertainment component of the rally was also first class. The music was excellent, lively and culturally rooted, giving the campaign ground the true flavour of an Ekiti political carnival.
Ido/Osi Isokan added a unique local touch to the event by inviting Ogidiolu Olu Alaro, a veteran Ekiti traditional musician, who thrilled the crowd with pure Ekiti music. Ogidiolu electrified the venue with songs calling on the people to vote massively for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and his Deputy, Chief Mrs Monisade Christianah Afuye.
Also adding colour, rhythm and vibrancy to the rally was the Director-General of Community Communications, Mrs Mary Oso-Omotosho, who led her Pipopopo team in a brilliant performance that further energised the crowd and enriched the carnival atmosphere of the campaign.
Governor Oyebanji, visibly impressed by the massive turnout and excellent organisation of the event, described the Ido/Osi Isokan rally as one of the most organised campaign outings so far. He commended the leadership, discipline, mobilisation strength and unity displayed by the people, saying the gathering was a clear testimony that the APC remains firmly rooted in the hearts of Ido/Osi people.
The Governor recalled that when the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, spoke glowingly about the impressive campaign outing in Ikole, he had expressed confidence that the rally in Ido/Osi Isokan would be unbeatable. According to him, the people did not only meet that expectation, they surpassed it.
Governor Oyebanji said APC stalwarts in Ido/Osi Isokan had not disappointed him, noting that many prominent figures driving his re-election project and government structure are from the council area and have continued to prove their political worth.
He specifically mentioned his Director-General for the 2026 Governorship Campaign, Senator Cyril Oluwole Fasuyi, and his Chief of Staff, Hon. Niyi Adebayo, whom he said had worked with other leaders to galvanise and mobilise the impressive turnout.
The Governor also acknowledged other notable APC leaders and stakeholders from Ido/Osi Isokan, including Dr Moyo John Ekundayo , Prof Kofoworola Adebimpe Aderiye Hon Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo ,Hon. Yomi Ayorinde, Hon. Gbenga Agbeyo, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, Hon. Shola Ogunsina , Hon Babatunde Dada ,Hon Babatunde Fawekun, Hon Bamidele Omoleye and several others, commending them for their commitment, loyalty and grassroots mobilisation.
He charged the people to translate their love, enthusiasm and public show of support into concrete electoral victory by ensuring that all eligible voters collect their Permanent Voter Cards and prepare to vote massively on election day.
Governor Oyebanji said he would not need to make a long campaign speech, as former Governor Segun Oni had already spoken clearly and convincingly to the people. He said he fully aligned himself with the message of the former Governor, who had earlier addressed the crowd alongside his wife and aides.
The Governor promised never to disappoint the people of Ekiti State in his second term, assuring them that his administration would further strengthen the cord of development, deepen good governance and substantially improve on its welfare packages for the people.
“I assure you, you shall not regret voting for me,” Governor Oyebanji declared.
He specially lauded former Governor Segun Oni for his maturity, statesmanship, loyalty to Ekiti progress and commitment to the success of the APC in the forthcoming election.
Earlier in his remarks, former Governor Segun Oni described the coming election as a historic assignment for Ekiti people. According to him, the election presents an opportunity to achieve two major political milestones in the state.
He said the first historic task is to vote a sitting Governor back-to-back, while the second is to move Ekiti beyond the old threshold of less than 300,000 votes by delivering over 600,000 votes for Governor Oyebanji.
“We are going to make history. First, by electing a sitting Governor back-to-back, and second, by crossing the old boundary of under 300,000 votes cast and moving to record over 600,000 votes. By the grace of God, Ekiti people will vote a performing Governor back-to-back,” Chief Segun Oni said.
Former Governor Oni assured Governor Oyebanji, Chief Mrs Afuye and the APC leadership that he would mobilise the people of Ido/Osi Isokan and beyond to ensure total victory for the BAO/MCA ticket.
He said the election must be treated as a collective Ekiti project, stressing that the continuity of Governor Oyebanji’s administration is necessary for the consolidation of peace, stability, development and good governance in the state.
Also speaking, the Ekiti State APC Chairman, Barrister Shola Elesin, said the party’s target in the election is no fewer than 800,000 votes across the state. He urged party leaders, ward executives, youth leaders, women mobilisers and grassroots coordinators to move beyond celebration and intensify house-to-house, street-to-street and unit-to-unit mobilisation.
The Ido/Osi Isokan leaders, in their separate remarks, pledged total loyalty to Governor Oyebanji and promised to deliver a landslide victory for the BAO/MCA ticket. They described the Governor as a humble, accessible, compassionate and performing leader whose administration has touched every sector of Ekiti life.
The campaign also witnessed a major political realignment as members of the Peoples Democratic Party from Usi formally declared for the All Progressives Congress.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hon. Kola Dada, Usi PDP Chairman, declared that the PDP had ceased to exist in Usi from the day of the rally, as its members had resolved to collapse their structure into the APC.
According to him, their decision was informed not only by the visible and remarkable achievements of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji in Ekiti State, but also by the bold reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the national level.
“From today, there is no PDP in Usi again. We have joined the APC not only because of the wonderful achievements of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, but also because of the reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Hon. Dada declared.
One of the major aspirants whose presence was strongly felt at the rally was Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, a House of Representatives aspirant, who mobilised heavily to the campaign venue. His supporters came out in impressive numbers, with many people from different wards cheering him and testifying to his performance during his previous service as a member of the House of Representatives.
Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who recently resigned his appointment as Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, is seeking to return to the House of Representatives to serve his people again. His mobilisation added colour, energy and political weight to the Ido/Osi Isokan campaign rally.
Youth leaders at the event also gave testimonies of the positive impact of the Oyebanji administration, particularly in youth empowerment, agricultural entrepreneurship, skills development and economic inclusion. They praised the Governor for creating opportunities that have lifted many young people into productive and sustainable ventures.
Hon. Chief Mrs Bunmi Oriniowo, while addressing the gathering, highlighted some of the achievements of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji in infrastructure, workers’ welfare, road construction, education, agriculture, health, youth development, community empowerment and inclusive governance.
She said Ido/Osi Isokan people have no reason to be ungrateful to a Governor who has governed with fairness, humility and visible performance.
“We cannot be ingrates. Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has done well. What we want is sustainable continuity. We shall vote for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and Chief Mrs Monisade Afuye,” she declared.
The Ido/Osi Isokan campaign was attended by distinguished APC members and party stalwarts, including the Secretary to the Government of Ekiti State, Prof. Mrs Abibat Adubiaro; Chief Mrs Ronke Okusanya; and several other political leaders, government functionaries, community leaders, youth representatives, women groups and supporters of the BAO/MCA ticket.
The campaign ended with renewed commitment by party leaders, community influencers, women groups, youth organisations and grassroots mobilisers to intensify voter education, ensure collection of voter cards and deliver an unprecedented result for the APC.
The Ido/Osi Isokan Campaign Council reaffirmed that the council area is fully prepared, politically energised and structurally ready to make history with BAO and MCA.
Signed:
Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq.
Chairman, Publicity Committee
BAO/MCA Ido/Osi Isokan Campaign Council
