Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on Friday inaugurated 5,000 community canvassers to drive grassroots mobilisation for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Oyebanji, who inaugurated the canvassers at the Fajuyi Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, described the initiative as a strategic step towards securing massive votes for the President while also strengthening the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election in the state.
The governor said the successes recorded by his administration were largely due to the support, guidance and encouragement received from President Tinubu, stressing that the state government remained grateful for the President’s commitment to Ekiti’s development.
Addressing the large gathering at the colourful event, Oyebanji emphasised the significance of both the forthcoming governorship and presidential elections, noting that the June 20 governorship poll would serve as a litmus test for the 2027 presidential election.
He added that the inauguration of the canvassers formed part of efforts to strengthen grassroots engagement through door-to-door mobilisation and youth-driven campaign strategies aimed at reaching voters across communities.
According to the governor, each of the 5,000 canvassers is expected to mobilise at least 25 voters, a strategy he said would significantly boost the party’s chances in the two elections.
Oyebanji expressed confidence that the APC would secure not fewer than 500,000 votes in the governorship election and at least 700,000 votes for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential poll.
The governor commended the dedication and commitment of the volunteers, noting that they were driven by conviction and a shared belief in the administration’s developmental agenda rather than partisan interests.
He stressed that modern elections require scientific strategies and strong voter identification, adding that person-to-person communication would help canvassers identify voters and ensure their participation on election day.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Bureau of Community Communication and convener of the initiative, Mrs Mary Oso-Omotoso, said the gathering represented more than political mobilisation but a demonstration of support for a leadership that had positively impacted lives across the state.
Oso-Omotoso explained that the canvassers were drawn from communities, grassroots organisations and various groups that voluntarily decided to support the governor and the President based on their achievements and leadership style.
In their goodwill messages, representatives of the private sector, artisans, Christian and Muslim communities, youth groups, persons with disabilities and non-indigenous ethnic groups commended the governor’s leadership and pledged their readiness to mobilise voters across communities in support of the APC during the forthcoming elections.
Dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; members of the State Executive Council; and lawmakers of the State House of Assembly, among others.
