Where is the jubilation in Ekiti today? Walk through Ado, Ikere, or Ijero, and what you’ll find are not cheering crowds, but faces clouded with disbelief and disappointment.
The mood across the state is far from celebratory. Conversations in markets, on street corners, and in taxis echo one question, how did we get here?
There are, of course, a few smiling faces, mostly among the political appointees who benefited from the recent decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC). Yet even they wear their smiles cautiously, aware that they stand out in a sea of angry and bewildered Ekiti sons and daughters.
The heart of the tension lies in what many have described as an opaque consensus arrangement that endorsed Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) without proper consultation or recourse to the overwhelming crowd of party supporters who, not long ago, gathered in unprecedented numbers to receive Kayode Ojo.
For many Ekiti people, that rally was more than a welcome, it was a statement. A clear declaration that the people wanted a voice in determining their political future. Yet, the decision from Abuja seems to have silenced that voice, at least for now.
The APC NWC’s announcement struck like a thunderbolt. It not only shocked the political landscape of Ekiti State but also cast a shadow over the faith of party loyalists in the fairness and transparency of internal party democracy.
“It feels like the people have been ignored,” one grassroots supporter lamented in Ado-Ekiti. “If democracy means government by the people, where then are the people in this decision?”
Now, attention turns to the one man whose word still carries enormous weight — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Many believe only his intervention can calm the growing discontent and restore confidence in the party’s democratic process. Yet, as things stand, the NWC’s actions seem designed to box the President into a corner.
It’s the classic “act first, seek forgiveness later” approach, a political gamble that could prove costly. Forcing the hand of the President in a state so politically charged and symbolically important to the Southwest could backfire.
The people have spoken loudly and clearly — through their support for Kayode Ojo and their rejection of imposed candidates. Ignoring that collective voice risks deepening divisions within the APC and alienating a vital bloc of the electorate ahead of future elections.
Beyond party politics, what’s at stake here is the soul of participatory democracy in Ekiti State. When decisions are made without the people, for the people, democracy becomes an empty slogan.
As the dust settles, one thing is certain: the battle for Ekiti’s political direction is far from over. The people have tasted the power of their collective voice and they are not ready to be silenced.
The coming days will test not only the unity of the APC but also the moral compass of its leadership. Will they listen to the heartbeat of the people, or will they continue to govern from the shadows of backroom deals?
For now, Ekiti waits, watching, questioning, and hoping that somewhere between Abuja’s calculations and the people’s expectations, justice will prevail.
Culled from Olusola Omolayo’s ” Where is The Jubilation in Ekiti Now?”
