Oyebanji Bows To Pressure, Reappoints Sacked Ekiti Commissioners

By Ayodele Oni

Bowing to advice from the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Ekiti state, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has reappointed all the sacked Commissioners.

Already, their names have been  forwarded as nominees to the State Assembly for screening and consideration for appointment as Commissioners in a bid to reconstitute his cabinet.

The Commissioners were relieved of their appointment in August in the wake of preparation for the APC governorship primary election.

Governor Oyebanji had accused some of them of disloyalty to him as some were reportedly backing other governorship aspirants against him.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Yinka Oyebode, in a statement on Monday said the list comprised of commissioners who were members of the State Executive Council that was dissolved by the Governor on August 10, 2025.

He added that, “the decision to re-present the former Commissioners for consideration by the State Assembly was jointly taken by the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and critical stakeholders of the party in Ekiti State, who impressed it on the Governor to retain the team.

“The decision was hinged on the need for the party to go into the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State Governorship election as a united family.

“It is believed that appointing a new set of Commissioners barely seven months to the election could be counter-productive.

“Recall that the party leadership, the leadership of various towns and communities and other critical stakeholders, worked with the screening committee set up by the Governor, in the selection, nomination and appointment of the Commissioners and and other appointees in 2023.

“Governor Oyebanji, had at the inception of his administration, said the party and leaders of various towns and communities in the State would play crucial roles in the process leading to the appointment of people into offices in order to make them accountable to the people.”