Governor Biodun Oyebanji's first-term achievements have become central to Ekiti's 2026 gubernatorial conversation. Since taking office on October 16, 2022, his administration has implemented projects across infrastructure, healthcare, education, and energy under the Shared Prosperity agenda. Over 350 kilometres of roads have been completed, including the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Flyover in Ado Ekiti and the 17.8km Ring Road Phase One, linking northern and central senatorial zones to the airport.
The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, previously stalled, is now operational with domestic flights and ongoing expansions, including staff quarters and aviation fuel facilities. To boost energy access, the government reconnected communities to the national grid, launched a 2.6-megawatt Independent Power Project, and installed solar-powered street lights. The recently groundbreaking Ekiti Knowledge Zone aims to attract tech firms and create 20,000 jobs.
In healthcare, 106 primary health care centres have been renovated and equipped with modern facilities and drugs. The 80-bed complex at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and the Centre for Newborn Health Research & Innovation are improving maternal and child health outcomes. In education, schools across local governments have been renovated, with the Ikere Model College as a flagship project, reinforcing Ekiti's identity as Nigeria's "Fountain of Knowledge."
The SURWASH programme has delivered 110 sanitation facilities and solar-powered water systems. Agriculture and social inclusion initiatives are also part of the administration's interventions. As the June 20, 2026 election nears, the debate has shifted from rhetoric to whether the current momentum should be extended into a second term.
Governor Oyebanji promotes development based on lived experience, yet frames the 2026 election as a referendum on his projects rather than a choice among candidates. Ekiti voters must now weigh tangible infrastructure against the absence of a clear challenger or alternative vision. The administration's success in building roads, hospitals and airports does not erase the question of whether progress should be judged by construction alone. A government that delivers projects still must answer how it handles dissent, inclusion and accountability.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
