By Law Ibitoye
A former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Surveyor Abiodun Aluko, has said APC would win the June 20 governorship election with wide margin, saying Governor Oyebanji deserves a second term based on his performance in office.
Aluko, disclosed this during an interview on Wednesday in his country home, Ikere Ekiti. He said APC has set a target of securing at least 500,000 votes and 95 percent of the total votes in the election.
“Our mandate is clear. We want to win overwhelmingly. We are not just interested in winning; we want a convincing victory that will show the strength of APC in Ekiti State,” he said.
Aluko expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious, describing the opposition as weak and lacking the grassroots structure required to challenge the ruling party in the state. He maintained that the APC remains the dominant political force in Ekiti, adding that its widespread structures across wards and local governments give it a clear advantage in the forthcoming poll.
The All Progressives Congress, (APC) stalwart said Oyebanji has demonstrated prudent leadership and commitment to development particularly in security, infrastructure, road construction and rehabilitation and agricultural development.
He noted that the state has been widely rated as one of the safest in the South-West, attributing the achievement to the administration’s deliberate policies and coordination with security agencies.
“Honestly, it is not because I am a member of APC that I am saying this. I have rated the governor very high. He has done well and he deserves a second term to continue the good work he has started,” Aluko said.
Aluko also commended the government’s support for farmers and youth empowerment through agricultural projects, noting that the farm settlement along Ikere–Ilawe Road is already boosting food production and creating opportunities for young people.
“In terms of agriculture and food security, the government is doing a lot. If you go to the farm settlement around the Ikere axis, you will see the level of investment there, including hostels and security. It shows that the government is serious about ensuring food sufficiency,” he said.
The former deputy governor also highlighted improvements in road infrastructure across the state, stating that roads which had been in poor condition for decades are now motorable. He cited the Ikere–Ilawe and Ikere–Igbara odo roads as examples, saying travel time between the communities has significantly reduced due to the rehabilitation and reconstruction works carried out by the state government.
“Many of these roads were difficult to use for more than 20 years, but today you can drive from Ikere to Ilawe in less than 20 minutes. That shows the government is making a difference,” he said.
The APC stalwart also revealed that APC has begun intensive grassroots mobilization ahead of the election from unit, ward to local government, saying the grassroots are the main targets.
While explaining rationale behind consensus method, the former deputy governor explained that the party adopted a consensus arrangement in selecting candidates for local government chairmanship and councillorship positions in order to avoid internal disputes and unnecessary financial burden on aspirants.
Aluko urged Ekiti residents not to allow short-term inducements to influence their voting decisions, stressing that continuity in governance would enable the state to consolidate on ongoing development initiatives.
He therefore appealed to the electorate to support Governor Oyebanji in the June 20 election so that he can sustain and expand the progress already recorded by his administration.