Ekiti APC guber candidate, Oyebanji, deputy step out first time together

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, on Monday made his first public appearance with his running mate, Chief Mrs Monisade Afuye.

Oyebanji and Afuye stepped out together for the first time when they paid a “thank you visit” to Ikere Local Government Area.

Afuye, who was appointed Oyebanji’s running mate last week, joined the party’s flagbearer on the visit to her local government in continuation of his tour to LGA chapters of the APC in the state to thank them for electing him at the primary election on January 27.

Elated party members who received the duo at Ise-Ekiti junction, welcomed them with drums and singing, before joining his entourage in a long walk to Odo Oja, where they met with party members.

Oyebanji in his speech thanked Ikere Ekiti for presenting their daughter to fly the party’s flag with him, describing her as a committed party member.

“As stated in all the local governments we have visited, what we are doing is to appreciate our people for standing by us during the January 27 primary. This is not yet a political campaign as INEC is yet to open the space for campaign. I can understand the reason for the ceremonial mood in Ikere because we are in the local government of our deputy governorship candidate who is joining us on the thank you visit for the first time.

“We appreciate Chief (Mrs) Afuye for accepting this offer. I must also commend the people of Ikere- Ekiti for releasing her to join me as partner as we embark on the move to make Ekiti State greater. Ikere has always been the home of the progressives and we will continue to sustain that relationship” Oyebanji added.

Earlier, the leader of the team and Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Alaba Bejide, had commended the party members for their support during the primary election and urged them to make sure they validate their PVC before June 18 in order to be able to vote for Oyebanji.

 “The primary election was just a phase, the coming campaign is another phase, but the biggest assignment before us is the June 18 election. It is through the election we would be able to use our votes to elect Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as Governor of Ekiti State.

 “With the new electoral law, we may all need to go back and do face capturing because finger print may not be the only means of identification and authentication during the June 18 election. It is only when we have all successfully done this that we can be sure of having a license to vote. Besides, our findings have revealed that many of us are yet to get our PVC, especially those who were not up to age 18 during the 2018 election.”

Also speaking, a former Chairman of the Party in the state, High Chief Jide Awe, who corroborated Chief Bejide’s position, urged those willing to work for Oyebanji’s victory to go back to their wards and mobilise members to get PVC as well as participate in the door-to-door electioneering campaign. He said all hands must be on deck for the success of the party at the governorship poll.