Biodun Oyebanji

Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji // ⓘ, (born 21 December 1967) is a Nigerian politician who is serving as governor of Ekiti State since 2022. He is a former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government and a former Chief of Staff. He was elected governor during the 2022 Ekiti State gubernatorial election,[1][2][3][4] having defeated Olusegun Oni[5] of the Social Democratic Party[6] and Bisi Kolawole of the People Democratic Party.

Biodun Oyebanji
Governor of Ekiti State
Assumed office
16 October 2022
DeputyMonisade Afuye
Preceded byKayode Fayemi
Secretary to the Ekiti State Government
In office
18 October 2018 – 7 December 2021
GovernorKayode Fayemi
Personal details
Born
Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji

(1967-12-21) 21 December 1967
Ikogosi, Western State, Nigeria (now in Ekiti State)
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
EducationMasters in International Relations & Strategic Studies
Alma mater

Education

Oyebanji attended Awo Community High School before transferring to C.A.C Grammar School in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State, and then the Federal School of Art and Science in Ondo State and the District Commercial Secondary School in Aramoko, Ekiti State (1979 to 1983).[2]

In 1989, Oyebanji obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree in Political Science from the Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti), and proceeded to the University of Ibadan, Oyo State in 1992 where he bagged his masters’ Degree (M.Sc) in Political Science.

Career

Oyebanji has at various points served in public service through appointments or as a member of committees.

In 1994, Oyebanji was appointed the Secretary of the committee set up for the creation of Ekiti State, headed by Baba Deji Falegan.[7] He was also the Secretary of the Ekiti State Development Fund at one point.

When Nigeria reverted to democracy in 1999, at 32 years old, he was named as one of the top advisers to Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the state's first democratically elected governor. Oyebanji ascended through the ranks to become the state governor's Chief of Staff in 2003.

In 2009, he was appointed as the chairman of the governing board, Citizenship and Leadership Training centre under the federal ministry of youth and sports development (June 2009 – December 2010).

In 2010, Oyebanji was appointed the commissioner for integration and inter-governmental affairs and later Ekiti’s office of transformation strategy and delivery (OTSD) a year later by the administration of Kayode Fayemi.[8]

In 2018, Oyebanji was appointed secretary to the state government (SSG) by Kayode Fayemi, after being reelected for a second term as Governor of Ekiti State.

Politics

In 2021, Oyebanji resigned his position as the Secretary to the State Government to pursue his governorship aspirations.[9]

On 8 December 2021, Oyebanji declared his intention to contest the Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election in 2022

There were speculations of Oyebanji being the favourites of Kayode Fayemi, resulting in inferences of an imposition on the State which led to other aspirants withdrawing from the governorship primaries polls alleging that the "election committee was made up of loyalists of Fayemi".[10][11]

The grievances of the other aspirants were not addressed by the party hierarchy hence, the primary was held, and Oyebanji polled 101,703 votes, unopposed to emerge as the All Progressives Congress governorship flag bearer in the 2022 Ekiti State gubernatorial election.

On 18 June 2022, Oyebanji was elected governor on the APC platform with a 30% margin over second-place finisher and former Governor Olusegun Oni of the Social Democratic Party. He was officially Sworn in as Governor of Ekiti State on October 16, 2022.[12][13][14][15][16]

Personal life

Oyebanji is currently married to Prof. (Mrs) Oyebanji,[8][17] who is an associate professor at the University of Ibadan and also a princess in Ado Ekiti.

References
  1. Lawal, Sodiq (19 June 2022). "BREAKING: INEC Declares APC's Oyebanji Winner Of Ekiti Governorship Election (See Results)". The Nation Reporters. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  2. Lawal, Nurudeen (18 June 2022). "Abiodun Oyebanji: Important Facts about Ekiti APC Governorship Candidate Who Wants to Succeed Fayemi". Nigeria: Legit. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  3. "BREAKING: INEC declares Oyebanji winner of Ekiti governorship election". Punch Newspapers. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  4. "Ekiti election result: Biodun Oyebanji win Ekiti state governorship poll". BBC News Pidgin. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  5. "Olusegun Oni", Wikipedia, 16 October 2022, retrieved 16 October 2022
  6. "Social Democratic Party (Nigeria)", Wikipedia, 20 August 2022, retrieved 16 October 2022.
  7. "Biodun Oyebanji: garlands for true Ekiti homeboy at 54 - The Nation Newspaper". 21 December 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  8. "15 things to know about Ekiti Governor-elect Oyebanji". The Nation Newspaper. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  9. "Ekiti 2022: Oyebanji joins race, says Fayemi has no anointed choice". Tribune Online. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  10. "PROFILE: Biodun Oyebanji, the long-serving public officer who'll be next Ekiti governor". TheCable. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  11. "Seven governorship aspirants withdraw from APC primary election in Ekiti". TheCable. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  12. "Five Things to Know About Biodun Oyebanji, Ekiti Governor-Elect". Daily Trust. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  13. "INEC declares APC's yebanji as winner of Ekiti governorship election". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  14. "INEC declares APC's Oyebanji winner of Ekiti governorship election". Daily Trust. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  15. "#Ekitidecides2022: Meet Abiodun Oyebanji, Ekiti governor-elect - Premium Times Nigeria". 19 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  16. "How APC's Biodun Oyebanji won Ekiti Governorship election". Nairametrics. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  17. Ayeni, Tolulope (19 June 2022). "Biodun Oyebanji (BAO) biography: Ekiti Governor Elect Profile". KikioTolu News. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
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