Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji and a prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) figure in the state, Oluwole Oluyede, have publicly expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.
The development is significant because it brings together political figures associated with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition PDP around the President’s re-election campaign.
Oyebanji said on Tuesday that the APC and PDP in Ekiti were approaching the 2027 presidential election as a united family, with the objective of securing strong support for Tinubu across the state.
The governor also called on Ekiti voters to support the President, setting a target of 900,000 votes for Tinubu in the state.
According to reports, Oyebanji made the remarks while mobilising support for the President and highlighting what his administration described as the impact of the Federal Government’s policies and projects in Ekiti.
Oluyede, who is associated with the PDP in the state, also expressed support for Tinubu, adding another dimension to the political alignment emerging ahead of the 2027 election.
READ ALSO: Dangote’s Lamu Refinery to Generate 1,000MW
The development comes as political parties and their candidates intensify grassroots mobilisation across the country ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has already published the final list of presidential candidates for the election, with 18 candidates cleared to contest. Tinubu is the APC candidate, while former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is contesting under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Peter Obi is the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, while Sandy Ojang Onor is flying the PDP flag.
Ekiti has historically been an important political battleground, making declarations of support by political leaders particularly relevant as campaigns move towards the election.
The latest development also illustrates the fluid nature of alliances ahead of 2027, with politicians crossing traditional party lines or publicly backing candidates outside their immediate party structures.
For the APC, the endorsement from figures outside the party provides an opportunity to broaden its political coalition in the state. For the PDP and other opposition parties, the development underscores the challenge of maintaining party cohesion and building a competitive nationwide campaign.
The 2027 election is expected to generate further political realignments as parties strengthen their structures and candidates intensify engagements with voters.
