By Seyi Odewale
The South West Independent Campaign Movement (SWICAM) has intensified mobilisation for the re-election of Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, ahead of the June 20 governorship poll.
The group deployed more than 100 volunteers at the weekend to Ikere and Ado-Ekiti, where they engaged traders, civil servants, students and artisans in a coordinated grassroots advocacy campaign promoting the governor’s second-term bid.
The mobilisation followed the formal launch of SWICAM in Ado-Ekiti two weeks ago, attended by over 300 volunteers from across the state’s local government areas. Since then, the group said it has expanded its outreach to critical segments of the electorate, including workers, teachers and students.
As part of the campaign strategy, volunteers visited mosques on Friday and churches on Sunday, distributing Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to persuade residents to support Oyebanji at the polls.
Deputy National Coordinator of SWICAM, Mrs Bola Adewunmi, said the initiative was designed to boost voter participation and consolidate support for the governor.
“We have introduced a unique intervention in the campaign for the re-election of Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji. We want mass participation in the election,” she said.
The group cited interventions in agriculture, road construction, healthcare delivery, education and tourism as justification for Oyebanji’s re-election, insisting that continuity would sustain ongoing development programmes.
SWICAM said it has developed a weekly advocacy work plan covering the 142 towns and villages in Ekiti State to ensure wider voter engagement ahead of the election.
“We want to see Oyebanji defeat his opponents convincingly,” Adewunmi added.
The group also linked the outcome of the Ekiti poll to broader political calculations, noting that voter turnout could shape political influence beyond the state.
“The victory of Oyebanji is of strategic significance to the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Voting strength translates to political power at the national level,” the group stated.
SWICAM projected that Ekiti could record up to 1.5 million voters if mobilisation efforts are sustained, describing the state as strategically important in the region’s political landscape.
