Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye and leaders of the All Progressives Congress, on Monday, charged women within the party’s fold to resist alleged desperate attempt by some politicians to purchase their votes in the party’s primary, preparatory to the June 20, 2026 governorship poll.
The party leaders urged them to remain steadfast in their support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who has demonstrated unflagging commitment to gender promotion, by appointing women into strategic positions in government and party’s top echelons.
Mrs Afuye and the party’s women bigwigs, gave the charge, during an APC mobilisation tour, held in Ode, Omuo, Emure and Ise Ekiti, headquarters of Ayekire, Ekiti East, Emure and Ise/Orun Local Government areas of the state, respectively.
The programme was championed by the Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, who was represented at the event by her Special Assistant on Political Matters, Mrs Toyin Adepoju, to mobilise women for the governor ahead of the 2026 poll.
Addressing the women in all the councils visited, where hundreds of women defected into APC, Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, urged stiff resistance against those she branded as “moneybags”, who want to deploy monetary power to secure the party’s ticket.
Mrs Afuye posited that the governor through shrewd political acumen and sagacity, had demonstrated respect for party supremacy, by returning power to the rightful owners at the grassroots, thereby ramping up the culture of inclusivity.
The Deputy Governor added that Governor Oyebanji has surpassed his colleagues in terms of performance and development, despite receiving one of the least allocations from the federation accounts among the 36 states.
“You have a governor who is prudent. He has the experience, that is why you have this level of development. Don’t allow anybody to buy your conscience with ill-gotten wealth during the primary and the main election. You will never be disappointed, nor be put to shame under this government.
“Those who can’t win election in their wards are saying they will defeat us. If Governor Oyebanji wins the second term, he will do more for women. You can see the positions women are now enjoying in Ekiti, let us allow this to continue.
“Women are the most committed voters and mobilisers. We value you and Mr Governor has shown that he values you a lot. I want you to stand with him. He is a man with milk of kindness and compassion running in his veins.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had spoken in Abuja that our governor should move on and we must support him for this reelection to be achieved for the benefit of our state”.
In the same fashion, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro and Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Jide Awe, charged the women to be fair to all the new entrants in the party as expected under an ideal democratic setting.
They appealed to them to shun backstabbing in the primary and as well participate in the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise, to be declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, to buoy party’s support base.
“I want you to prove yourselves in the next primary with your votes. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you. Governor Oyebanji is the only person that can protect your interest. He knows the way, I want you to follow someone who knows the road. Don’t follow those that will mislead you”, Awe advised.
Buttressing the position canvassed by the Deputy Governor, the Chairperson, APC Women Elders’ Council, Mrs Ronke Okunsanya, charged them to reciprocate Governor Oyebanji’s outstanding gender balancing and inclusivity policy, through massive votes in 2026.
The former APC State Women Leader, said they should remain steadfast in their support for the governor , assuring that their interests shall be protected accordingly.
The Ekiti APC State Chairman, Hon. Sola Elesin, represented by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Segun Dipe, maintained that the Governor possesses the credibility, integrity and rich political and administrative antecedents to lead the state till 2030.
In their verdicts, the APC Women Leaders in Ekiti East, Mrs Kehinde Kayode, her counterparts in Ayekire, Chief Rachael Ademiloye, Emure, Mrs Florence Oke and Ise/Orun Councils, Mrs Idowu Oloniyo , declared total and unshakeable support for Governor Oyebanji.
They promised that they won’t deviate, nor waver in their backing for the Governor to win the party’s ticket during the APC primary and the subsequent election.
On the Deputy Governor’s entourage are: Chairmen of Local Governments, Director General , Office of Community Communications, Mrs Mary Oso- Omotoso, members of APC State Working Committee, women leaders, groups, among others