In advance of the June 20 governorship election, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, the governor of Ekiti State and the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, has advised politicians and supporters to avoid violence, stating that his desire to win reelection is not worth the life of any Ekiti citizen.

The governor emphasized the importance of nonviolent, issue-based campaigns during the electioneering period while speaking at rallies in Emure, Ise/Orun, and Ikere Local Government Areas.

Oyebanji stated that the APC has peacefully run its campaigns throughout the state and urged party supporters to refrain from any actions that could incite disorder before to, during, or following the election.

In appreciation of the continuing infrastructure initiatives carried out by his administration and the federal government under President Bola Tinubu, including significant road improvements around the state, he further asked citizens to support the APC.

In addition to announcing plans to build the Olowe Museum to support local arts, culture, and tourism, the governor of Ise-Ekiti pledged that construction on the Ise-Ijan Road will soon begin.

He also urged party members to step up grassroots organizing in the run-up to the election, stating that he was confident the APC will win over a sizable portion of the state based on its performance in office.

Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Emure-Ekiti defected to the APC during the rallies, while traditional leaders in the towns they visited prayed for the governor’s reelection.

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A High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced Ojo Tosin Olasunkanmi, 31, and Obamoyegun Dele, 31, to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.

Justice Bamidele Omotoso delivered the judgment.

The convicts were arraigned with Adewale David, 36, who died while the case was pending. They were initially charged on 31 January, 2020 and the charge was amended on 25 March, 2025 to six counts of conspiracy and armed robbery contrary to Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The charge stated that the defendants conspired and committed armed robbery on August 11, 2018, at Oganganmodu, off Igbole Road, Ido-Ekiti. They had guns and axes.

Items recovered during the operation include mobile phones, a Toyota Sienna Space Bus, cash of ₦120,000, laptop, DVD player, baby flask, cash of ₦20,000 and cash of ₦150,000.

One of the victims, Ojo Bosede, who testified before the court said that she and other family members had travelled from Lagos to attend a wedding in Igbole-Ekiti. She said the attackers came to the gate at about 1:00 a.m., introducing themselves as officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and said they were acting on a tip that hard drugs were kept in the house.

When the occupants refused to open the gate, the assailants climbed over the fence and smashed the burglary proof with a stone to gain entry. They robbed the occupants and stole her Sienna bus. The police were informed of the incident the next day.

The prosecution led by O.B. Ayeleso called nine witnesses and tendered several exhibits including the statements of the defendants, a black axe, 15 SIM cards, mobile phones, the recovered Sienna Space Bus, and photographs.

Counsels Ogunremi Opeyemi and Oluwatoyin Marcus represented the defendants who testified in their own defence but did not call any witness.

In delivering the judgment, Justice Omotoso held that the offence of conspiracy is established by the agreement or plot between parties, deduced from actions intended to achieve a common criminal purpose.

“I finally decided all the issues in favour of the prosecution against the accused. The judge said: “Accordingly, the defendants are convicted on the charges.”

He added: “For conspiracy and armed robbery, this court sentences the defendants, Ojo Tosin Olasunkanmi and Obamoyegun Dele to be hanged by the neck until dead. “God have mercy on your souls.”

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Ayo Arise, a chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) and an aspirant for the Ekiti North Senatorial seat in the 2027 general election has condemned the invasion of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eda Oniyo, in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State by suspected bandits, calling the incident barbaric and unacceptable.

In a statement issued by his media office and made available to journalists on Wednesday, Arise sympathised with the people of Eda Oniyo and families of victims affected by the attack, which reportedly claimed the life of a pastor, with several persons abducted.

The development saddened him as he said that no community should be subjected to fear and bloodshed, especially in a place of worship where people gather to seek divine intervention.

The former senator charged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to move swiftly to unmask the perpetrators of the attack and ensure that they are brought to justice.

He stressed that the perpetrators should not go unpunished and said prompt action by security agencies would help restore public confidence and deter future attacks.

Arise also called on residents, community leaders and other stakeholders in the area to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could reinforce surveillance and improve safety across communities.

He said effective cooperation between the people and the government is still very important in protecting lives and property as well as allowing residents to worship freely and carry out their legitimate daily activities without fear.

Arise promised that he would not relent in his efforts to improve security in all towns and communities within Ekiti North Senatorial District and Ekiti State in general.

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Dr. Wole Oluyede, the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Ekiti State governorship primary, has stated that he intends to appeal the Federal High Court’s decision to nullify the exercise, calling it unfair and procedurally faulty.

Oluyede said through his attorney, Owoseni Ajayi, that an appeal will be filed as soon as possible, along with a request for a stay of execution to avoid holding a new primary right away.

He emphasized his resolve to pursue every legal option in order to get his candidacy acknowledged and his name added back to the list of qualified candidates for governor in the June 20, 2026 election.

The appeal follows the Federal High Court’s Ado Ekiti Division’s Tuesday ruling that the November 8, 2025, PDP primaries were unlawful.

Funso Ayeni, a candidate who contested the primary on the grounds that the party did not provide an authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates utilized in the exercise, won the case before Justice Babs Kuewumi.

In his ruling, Justice Kuewumi mandated that the PDP work with the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, to hold a new primary in accordance with the party’s constitution and the law, with participation open to all eligible candidates.

Oluyede maintained that the court’s finding does not represent the fairness and legality of the initial exercise, even though it provides the legal foundation for a new primary.

He said that the nullification threatens both internal democracy and party members’ rights and that his primary victory was legal.

Oluyede has promised to fight hard after being left off of INEC’s official list of candidates for governorship, which was released on December 29, 2025.

Before the 2026 election, Ajayi declared, “We will ensure that justice prevails and that Dr. Oluyede’s rightful position as PDP’s governorship candidate is restored.”

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