In an interview with Arise Tv, on Saturday June 20th, 2026, according to political scientist Obafemi George, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has a substantial edge in the current governorship race in Ekiti State because of its vast grassroots structure throughout the state.
George stated in a Saturday TV interview with Arise News that Governor Biodun Oyebanji is well-positioned to be re-elected due to the strength of the ruling party at the local level.
According to him, “APC controls all the local governments, they control all the wards, and that gives you leverage when it comes to elections.”
According to George, there is no evidence that the APC, PDP, and ADC would be in a close battle for the election. He claimed that the current governor’s extensive political network and loyal constituents make him the clear frontrunner.
An unusual occurrence in Ekiti politics, according to the expert, is that Oyebanji has the support of past governors from all political stripes. Additionally, he brought attention to the governor’s extensive involvement in state politics, which stretches back to the early years of the Fourth Republic.
George said that the ADC does not have the organisational power to successfully oppose the APC, even if he acknowledged Ambassador Biodun Olujimi’s experience. Additionally, he mentioned that the PDP candidate has faced challenges in building up enough support from the grassroots.
In a state like Ekiti, where local networks are quite important, George emphasised that political structures are still very important in deciding the results of elections.
According to him, the APC has a leg up when it comes to voter mobilisation and organising events on election day because it controls ward and local government organisations.
