Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji is getting a split report card from his own people three and a half years into his first term — and with the governorship election just four days away, the verdict could shape who wins.
Residents who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES praised the governor for fixing roads and improving healthcare, but they slammed him for failing to tackle insecurity, create jobs, or make life affordable in a state where prices keep climbing.
Oyebanji ran in 2022 on a six-point agenda called “Roadmap to a Prosperous Ekiti” — youth development, human capital, agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, and good governance. Since taking office in October 2022, he has delivered some of those promises, but residents say the delivery is uneven.
Seun Folorunso, a mechatronics engineer, said the administration has scored big on infrastructure. He pointed to the airport, the Ekiti Ring Road, the Ekiti Business District, and the Ekiti Knowledge Zone as projects with long-term economic value. He also praised investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, and rural development.
Samson Adeniyi, an entrepreneur living in the state capital Ado-Ekiti, said he has seen many road projects completed there. But he added that the governor could have spread development more evenly across the state.
“I will rate him seven out of 10. He created empowerment opportunities for some youth, although I never benefited from them,” said Olowoyo Nafisat, a teacher.
Ms Olowoyo praised the government's work on agriculture, rural development, and youth empowerment in the early years. But she said security has gotten worse, not better.
“Our expectations were mainly on security. I will rate him five per cent out of 100 in that area because there is no solid security in the state generally,” she said.
She also runs a natural drinks business and said living standards haven't improved since Oyebanji took over. Prices of goods and services keep rising, and money doesn't circulate easily. She gave his overall performance a three out of 10.
Agnes Akinola, a fashion designer, said unemployment remains the biggest problem for young people in Ekiti, even though the government has done well in other sectors.
The government has spent about N200 billion on roads since 2022, completing over 126 kilometres of road as of September 2025. In August 2024, Oyebanji commissioned roads in Ado-Ekiti including Hospitals Management Board-Doctors Quarters Road, Obisesan/Oke Ala Road, and Jimoh Aliu-Adewunmi Street.
Health workers praised the administration in 2025 for investing in healthcare infrastructure. In early 2026, the government said it had revitalised primary healthcare centres and expanded access, offering free medical services to over 1,000 residents in June 2026.
In May 2026, the government distributed 1,000 laptops to youth to promote digital literacy. But for many residents, that gesture falls short of the job creation they were promised.
With the election on Saturday, Oyebanji will need more than road projects to convince voters that his agenda has made their lives better. The feedback from the streets suggests the verdict is still out.