History was made in Ado-Ekiti on Friday as Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji officially took the oath of office for his second four-year tenure, effectively breaking the decades-long political jinx that prevented sitting governors in Ekiti State from securing consecutive re-elections.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in the state capital, saw the oath of allegiance and office administered by the State Chief Judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye. Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye was also sworn in alongside the governor before a capacity crowd of party chieftains, traditional rulers, and foreign dignitaries.
Oyebanji’s inauguration follows his decisive victory in the June 20, 2026 governorship election. His re-election marks a historic shift for Ekiti politics, which had previously maintained a pattern of alternating political power without a governor achieving back-to-back mandates.
Delivering President Bola Tinubu’s official address at the ceremony, Vice President Kashim Shettima commended the people of Ekiti State for demonstrating democratic maturity. Shettima stated that while a first mandate is driven by political promises, a second term is earned strictly through performance, integrity, and trust built over time.
In his inaugural address, Governor Oyebanji pledged to build upon his administration’s foundational achievements by prioritizing youth empowerment, agricultural modernism, rural electrification, and economic infrastructure over the next four years.
“This victory belongs to the good people of Ekiti State who chose continuity over uncertainty. We will serve with renewed vigor and ensure that development reaches every home,” Oyebanji declared.
