By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The political matrix of Ekiti State on Monday, October 7, took a new twist. It was a dimension that really shook the polity and recalibrate it ahead of the 2026 governorship election. A phenomenon that altered the political permutations and bolstered Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s reelection chances clearly and lucidly.
What really happened. The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti, subsumed the state wing of the Action Democratic Party, as its flagbearer in the 2022 gubernatorial election, Erelu Kemisola Elebute-Halle, led members of the party into the APC political family.
At the epochal event, he renowned political icon also put smiles on faces of thousands of supporters. She distributed food palliatives and cash gifts worth over 10 million naira to help the beneficiaries to buffer l the effect of the raging economic crunch in the country on them.
Bags of rice customized in Governor Oyebanji’s name, clothing materials, kitchen utensils and cash, were distributed to people who were drawn across the 16 local governments of the state.
Tracing the trajectory of her unstoppable political movement and influence in Ekiti, it will not be exaggerative to declare that Erelu Kemisola Elebute-Halle’s defection to the ruling party will bolster the APC in Ekiti state as the party’s political base is further strengthened by her latest moves.
Her sudden but expected deflection signaled a the opening of a new vista for the female gender in Ekiti politics. This is because the trailblazing politician emerged as the first female governorship candidate in the history of the state .The momentum with which she bestrode the political turf is still confounding and making political players gaping for so long.
Before she switched camp to the APC, Elebute Halle was unarguably the sole financier of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), under which she ran for governorship during the last gubernatorial poll in the state. Her philanthropic gesture is infinite and knows no bounds.
In the last election, even as a debutant, she went all out by putting in place formidable structures, as the only female candidate to have ever done so in the history of politics in Ekiti. She eventually came fourth at the polls, gathering more votes than some other contestants regarded to be more experienced.
While APC’s Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji eventually emerged victorious with a landslide victory with Engr. Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) coming second and Otunba Bisi Kolawole of the PDP coming third, Erelu Elebute came fourth in the keenly contested poll.
She lost her first plunge into political contest as a neophyte and underdog, but she never gave up. She rolled out her political tanks and started commanding faithful followers most especially women and youths who had since form a formidable Army around her in Ekiti politics.
Besides being the sole financier of the ADP, she also coordinated her political campaigns in the state from the grassroots and took her campaigns seriously even to the ward levels, across the 16 local governments to the state.
Erelu Kemi Halle who recently bagged a Doctorate award also financed aspirants to contest various political positions in ADP in the state making the party a force to be reckon with during the 2022 guber elections.
Knowing her worth and gravitas, Elebute-Halle was appointed as the Director-General, ADP 2023 Presidential Campaign and the party’s National Deputy Chairman, South while she carried the ADP financially and contributed immensely towards the growth and development of the party making it a formidable parry at the national level.
These and many attributes of hers were not despised by Governor Oyebanji’s backers , and therefore curried and received her with open arms to be part of the progressive family.
Oyebanji’s style of leadership in Ekiti has been highly accommodating and a good leader knows when to bring a formidable opponent into his fold rather than having her as an opposition. Hence, spirited needs to spread his tentacles to the opposition’s den to catch a big fish like Elebute-Halle.
The good natured Governor has endeared himself not only to members of his party, but also the opposition who continue to support his administration openly as demonstrated by Ayodele Fayose of the PDP, Engineer Segun Oni of the SDP. And now, Erelu Kemi Elebute, the latest to join the political family of the APC.
In an atmosphere laden with ecstasy, Erelu Elebute-Halle during her defection said; “Governor Oyebanji is a very humble man. We share some attributes particularly in the areas of humanitarian gesture. Look at how far he has affected lives of some individuals positively in Ekiti in such a short period of time.
“Apart from this, Oyebanji is service-driven. If you look at what he has been able to do in the last few months, he should be commended.
Erelu Kemi also declared that she believes in the Renewed hope agenda of President Ahmed Tinubu and likewise the leadership style of the Governor of Ekiti state.
Apart from leading thousands of the ADP members across the 36 states of the country to decamp to the APC, she also made sure to move many bigwigs in the APC to welcome her into the party.
Former Chairman of the party in Ekiti State, High Chief Jide Awe declares that with Erelu in the fold the APC is poised for another massive win in the forthcoming guber elections in the state.
” When Erelu paid me a visit, she didnt come empty handed and like her usual self, she came with normal philanstrophic gestures by ensuring we reach out to people who need those items worth Hundreds of thousands of naira. I am here to welcome her home because this is a great addition to our grear Party”
The Deputy Governor of Ekiti state Mrs Monisade Afuye who also graced the occasion said she is delighted to have Elebute in the party because this is a testimony that our party will remain unbeatable in subsequent elections in the state.
” It is good to have her home and as you can see i have come personally to welcome her home into this great party and we are assuring her of our support that she and her followers will be treated equally”
Expressing her delight upon being unveiled by the APC State Chairman Barrister Sola Elesin in company of other APC Chieftains, Elebute-Halle said she would serve the party and join forces with the present administration for the growth and development of the state.
“I made consultations friends in the party. I feel much more comfortable in APC because of the way our Governor is working and again I believe in the renewed hope agenda of his Excellency, Bola Tinubu.
“I am a service-oriented leader and that is the same thing I told my followers in ADP. So for me, I am coming to APC to serve.
In the words of one of the Chieftains of the APC, Hon Taiwo Olatunbodun, Engineer Elebute Halle is the new Bride of the APC in Ekiti and this is a signal to all other opposition parties that their is no vacancy in the state house come 2026.