The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, on Friday inaugurated 5,000 community canvassers to mobilise grassroots support ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election in the state.
The canvassers, drawn from communities across the state, were unveiled at an event organised by the Ekiti State Bureau of Community Communications at the Fajuyi Pavillion in Ado-Ekiti.
Speaking at the event, Oyebanji described the initiative as a demonstration of grassroots conviction and voluntary support for his administration, noting that the mobilisation effort was not funded by the government but by supporters committed to the continuity of his government.
The Governor said, “This is history in the making. Since the creation of Ekiti State, a gathering of this nature has never happened.”
He commended the volunteers for organising themselves to support his administration, describing them not merely as members of the ruling party but as citizens driven by belief in the government’s performance.
“You are not just party members, you are volunteers who have come together by conviction and by the need to continue with a government that is doing well,” he said.
Oyebanji also reiterated the importance of accountability in a democratic system, noting that elected officials must remain accessible to the people because political mandates are time-bound.
He said, “Democracy has an expiry date. Every democratic mandate expires every four years and there is a need for renewal of that mandate, leaders must continually engage with citizens.”
The governor attributed the achievements of his administration partly to the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as a strong supporter of governors across the country.
He said, “Everything you have listed as achievement would not have been possible without the support, guidance and advice of the President”.
He also urged supporters to adopt data-driven mobilisation strategies rather than relying solely on large political rallies.
According to him, modern elections require organised voter identification and targeted engagement with voters at the grassroots level.
He said, “What we need to do is identify voters before election day. I listened when one of the speakers said that one canvasser is going to bring in 25 voters, that is how to do it.”
Oyebanji also expressed confidence that the mobilisation strategy would translate into a large voter turnout, setting a target of at least 500,000 votes in the June 20 governorship election.
According to him, the outcome of the election would serve as a signal of appreciation from Ekiti people to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support to the state.
He added that the exercise would also lay the groundwork for even greater voter mobilisation in the next presidential election.
The governor, however, cautioned supporters against political violence and urged all aspirants and political actors in the state to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process.
Earlier in her address, the Director-General of the Bureau of Community Communications, Mrs. Mary Omotosho, said the canvassers were recruited from various grassroots networks including markets, faith-based organisations and professional groups.
She said the mobilisation effort was designed to strengthen direct voter engagement through a house-to-house approach.
According to her, each canvasser has been assigned to mobilise at least 25 voters, a strategy that could deliver about 125,000 votes for the governor in the next election.
Omotosho noted that the programme was organised without prior publicity to demonstrate its organic grassroots nature.
She said, “These are not hired faces, these are ordinary citizens who have decided to go door to door and remind the people of Ekiti State about the impact of this administration,”
She added that a dedicated vote-tracking website had been created to monitor the mobilisation process.
Dignitaries at the event included the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye; the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr.Oyeniyi Adebayo; the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Yinka Oyebode; the Chairman of the Ekiti State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Emmanuel Aribasoye and the Chief Imam of Ado-Ekiti, Sheikh Jamiu Bello.
