Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has made his first set of appointments following his inauguration for a second term in office, retaining three key members of his administration.

The governor approved the reappointment of Professor Habibat Adubiaro as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo as Chief of Staff, and Mr Olayinka Oyebode as Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor.

The appointments were announced on Friday, October 16, 2026, shortly after Oyebanji and his deputy, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Christianah Afuye, were inaugurated for another term in office in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Olayinka Oyebode, the appointments take immediate effect.

The decision to retain the three principal officials ensures continuity in key administrative, executive and communication positions as the governor begins his second term.

As Secretary to the State Government, Professor Adubiaro occupies a strategic position in the coordination of government policies, administrative processes and inter-agency relations.

Similarly, Adebayo, as Chief of Staff, is responsible for supporting the governor’s office and coordinating executive activities, while Oyebode oversees official communications and media relations for the state government.

The reappointments constitute the first official appointments announced by Oyebanji since his inauguration for a second term, signalling the continuation of the existing leadership structure in these critical offices.

The statement did not indicate whether further appointments would be announced in the coming days.

The announcement was signed by Olayinka Oyebode, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ekiti State.

Senate Leader and Chairman of the Ekiti State Governorship Campaign Council, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has described the first term of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as remarkably peaceful, attributing the achievement to the governor’s humility, sense of duty and inclusive leadership style.

Bamidele said Oyebanji’s ability to foster cordial relationships among political stakeholders across the state had created an enabling environment for development and progress in Ekiti State.

The Senate Leader stated this in his welcome address at the second-term inauguration of Governor Oyebanji and his deputy, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Christianah Afuye, in Ado-Ekiti.

He commended the governor for sustaining a peaceful political atmosphere, noting that cooperation among political leaders and stakeholders had contributed significantly to the state’s developmental strides.

Reflecting on Ekiti State’s political and developmental journey from the administration of its first civilian governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, through subsequent administrations, including that of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, Bamidele said Oyebanji had continued to strengthen the culture of political stability and peaceful coexistence.

He noted that the governor’s leadership approach had helped sustain a harmonious political environment, allowing the state to focus on governance and development rather than political divisions.

Bamidele further described Oyebanji’s re-election as a historic milestone, noting that the governor had broken a longstanding political barrier by becoming the first governor in Ekiti State to secure consecutive second-term mandates.

He expressed confidence that the governor’s second term would provide further opportunities to consolidate the achievements of his first administration and advance the development of the state.

EKITI STATE — Governor Biodun Oyebanji has declared that the success of his second term will be measured by the extent to which government investments translate into improved livelihoods, stronger businesses and greater economic opportunities for the people of Ekiti State.

Oyebanji made the declaration during his inauguration ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, outlining an ambitious development agenda focused on electricity, agriculture, skills development, job creation, education, healthcare and critical infrastructure.

He stressed that public spending must deliver tangible benefits to ordinary citizens, particularly households, farmers, artisans, entrepreneurs and young people grappling with rising living costs.

“The measure of our second term will be how much of investment we have made improve the lives of our people,” the governor said, insisting that development must be reflected in better incomes, productive farms, thriving businesses and improved access to essential services.

He explained that roads must enable farmers to transport their produce to markets efficiently, while reliable electricity would drive industrialisation, boost productivity and help small businesses sustain their operations.

Oyebanji also pledged to strengthen the education sector by connecting formal learning with practical skills, entrepreneurship and the demands of a changing economy.

“In this second term, we will connect education more closely to enterprise, practical skills, and the need of a changing economy,” he said.

Reflecting on Ekiti’s longstanding commitment to education, the governor acknowledged the sacrifices made by parents who endured economic hardship to educate their children, describing education as a defining pillar of the state’s heritage and future prosperity.

On agriculture, Oyebanji promised to expand productivity and strengthen the entire value chain through investments in farm clusters, processing, storage, packaging, transportation, marketing and access to capital.

He maintained that Ekiti’s agricultural potential must translate into greater economic returns for farmers, while creating employment opportunities for young people and other players across the production and distribution chain.

According to him, agriculture should be repositioned as a viable business driven by technology, innovation, investment and modern farming practices, rather than being confined to subsistence production.

“When agriculture prospers, the benefit travels from the farm to the market, from the market to the workshop, and from the workshop to the family home,” he said.

The governor further emphasised that healthcare facilities must provide accessible medical services without forcing families to deplete their savings, while investments in schools, roads and other public infrastructure must serve clearly defined social and economic purposes.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated Oyebanji on his inauguration for a second term, urging him to consolidate on his administration’s achievements and deliver greater dividends of democracy to the people.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the ceremony, Tinubu described Oyebanji’s electoral victory as evidence of the confidence reposed in his leadership and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The President urged the governor to sustain the momentum of development and deepen his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of Ekiti residents.

Oyebanji’s second-term agenda places particular emphasis on converting government investments into measurable improvements in living standards, with economic growth, job creation and household prosperity emerging as key benchmarks for assessing his administration’s performance.