For perhaps the first time since Ekiti State was created in 1996, four former governors—Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi—have publicly rallied behind the same governorship candidate.
As Ekiti voters prepare to elect a governor on Saturday, one of the most remarkable features of the campaign season has been the unprecedented alignment of the state’s political heavyweights behind incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
For the first time since the state was created in 1996, all four former elected governors—Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi—have publicly rallied behind the same governorship candidate.
In a state known for intense political rivalry and shifting alliances, the development has been striking. The endorsements have strengthened the narrative that the election is less a conventional political contest and more a referendum on Mr Oyebanji’s performance over the past three and a half years.
Yet beyond the symbolism of political unity, a critical question remains: How much influence do these former governors still command? Can their collective backing shape the election’s outcome?
Niyi Adebayo occupies a unique place in Ekiti’s political history.
As the state’s first elected governor in the Fourth Republic, serving a single term between 1999 and 2003, Mr Adebayo, son of a former military governor of the defunct Western State, Adeyinka Adebayo, established many of the administrative and institutional foundations upon which subsequent governments have built.
Although he has largely retreated from frontline partisan politics, he remains one of the state’s most respected political elders. His influence today may not be measured by campaign rallies or political structures but by the respect he commands among traditional rulers, professionals, civil servants and older members of the progressive political family.
His administration is credited with stabilising the newly created state, earlier run by the military, and laying the groundwork for governance structures that have endured for more than two decades.
Like many political leaders, however, his tenure on the Alliance for Democracy ticket was not without challenges. He lost his re-election bid in 2003 amid public dissatisfaction over economic conditions and governance concerns.
Today, analysts believe his endorsement carries significant symbolic value.
For many conservative and elite voters, Mr Adebayo’s support serves as reassurance that Mr Oyebanji represents continuity within the state’s progressive tradition.
If Mr Adebayo embodies institutional authority, Ayodele Fayose represents grassroots political energy.
No former governor arguably enjoys the same level of name recognition among ordinary Ekiti residents as Mr Fayose.
The two-term governor, who served from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2014 to 2018, built his political brand around direct engagement with the masses. His political style often transcended party lines, earning him supporters beyond his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he remains one of the state’s most influential figures.
His administrations are remembered for road construction projects, social intervention programmes and a political style that emphasised accessibility to ordinary citizens.
His career, however, has also been marked by controversies, including political confrontations, governance disputes and his impeachment during his first tenure—an action later nullified by the court.
For this reason, his endorsement of Mr Oyebanji has generated the greatest attention.
Despite remaining a PDP chieftain, Mr Fayose has repeatedly declared support for the APC governor, arguing that performance should take precedence over party affiliation.
Speaking during a recent radio programme broadcast across Ekiti State, the former governor made his position unmistakably clear.
“Ekiti comes first before any political affiliation. We were Ekitis before any political party. If you believe in me and believe I represent your interests, come out on June 20 and vote for Governor Biodun Oyebanji to complete his second term. He is a gentleman who has performed very well.”
Mr Fayose dismissed suggestions that his support was motivated by political patronage, insisting that his endorsement was based solely on what he described as the governor’s achievements in office.
He also revealed plans to campaign across the state’s three senatorial districts in support of Mr Oyebanji.
“I remain a member of the PDP. Whether we support him or not, Oyebanji will win, and the APC will be the greatest beneficiary. I have built an image in this state and have supporters who should vote for this governor.”
A lawyer and APC stakeholder, Babatunde Kolawole, believes Mr Fayose’s endorsement could have significant electoral implications.
“No former governor arguably commands grassroots recognition in Ekiti like Fayose,” Mr Kolawole told PREMIUM TIMES.
“If any former governor can still move substantial numbers of voters independently, Fayose is arguably the strongest.”
That assessment is shared by many observers who believe the former governor remains one of the few politicians capable of influencing voter sentiment across party boundaries.
Segun Oni’s tenure as governor may have been brief, but his political relevance has endured.
Mr Oni governed Ekiti between 2007 and 2010 before losing office following a prolonged legal battle that eventually led to Kayode Fayemi being declared the winner of the disputed election.
His tenure may not have existed in the eyes of the law; however, unlike many politicians known for combative styles, Mr Oni built a reputation around moderation, civility and political inclusiveness.
