The race for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election took a new turn on Tuesday as Hon. Abimbola Olajumoke Omawumi, the first female aspirant in the contest, officially declared her intention to challenge the incumbent, Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
Omawumi, who purchased her nomination and expression of interest forms under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), vowed to “liberate Ekiti from a cabal that has held the state hostage since 1999.”
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, she accused successive administrations of mismanaging huge federal allocations to the state without visible development.
“In the last three years alone, Governor Oyebanji’s administration has received over ₦500 billion from the federal government. Yet, there is nothing on ground—no roads, no schools, no hospitals—that justifies such funds,” she alleged.
She particularly faulted the handling of agricultural interventions, noting that despite President Bola Tinubu’s release of ₦50 billion last year for food security, Ekiti had failed to record any tangible progress.
“If Ekiti had invested ₦50 billion in agriculture, by now the state should be feeding the entire Southwest. But today, there is no single farm project the government can boast of,” she said.
Omawumi dismissed insinuations that her criticisms amounted to an indictment of her party. “I am not indicting the APC. I am saying the truth as it is. I am offering myself to do better than those who have been there,” she maintained.
The aspirant accused the present administration of “weaponizing poverty,” insisting that governance should be people-centered. “For 26 years, a particular cabal has controlled this state. It is time to change that. Governance should not be about enriching godfathers but about improving the lives of ordinary citizens,” she declared.
Outlining her priorities, Omawumi promised to rehabilitate abandoned roads, strengthen local governments, and ensure that funds meant for grassroots development are not diverted.
“Give me six months, and those neglected roads will be fixed. The federal government has done a lot for Ekiti, but unfortunately, local leadership has sabotaged those efforts,” she added.
She also recalled her history of activism, citing her opposition to former Governor Ayodele Fayose over unpaid salaries. “I was arrested and detained for speaking up against Fayose. That shows I have always been consistent and courageous. Nobody can intimidate me,” she said.
Omawumi, who has long championed women and youth empowerment through her NGO, pledged to continue giving voice to marginalized groups.
“Ekiti women deserve liberation, and I will be their voice. My aspiration is about service, not sabotage. We women have the capacity to govern effectively, and I believe the wife of the president, who has always stood for women, will support us in this struggle,” she concluded.
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