Atinuke Omolayo, a female governorship aspirant for Ekiti State in 2026, has stated that she would only step down for Governor Biodun Oyebanji, while expressing confidence in her chances of winning the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket.

Speaking to journalists after her screening by the APC Ekiti State Governorship Screening Committee in Abuja, Omolayo insisted she has a strong chance of clinching the party’s ticket. “Since the creation of Ekiti State, there has never been a female governor. I want to be the first female governor in Nigeria, and by the grace of God, it is going to come to be,” she said.

While praising Oyebanji’s performance in office, she asserted that a woman could “do more and better.” Omolayo encouraged women across the country to participate in politics, citing the support from the First Lady as a motivating factor.

Regarding the type of primaries to be adopted, Omolayo expressed her openness to any model—direct, indirect, or consensus. However, she firmly stated, “I will only step down for the governor, His Excellency Abayomi Oyebanji. He is my leader. He is the only one I am happy to step down for. Any other person, no way.”

Governor Oyebanji, who also faced the APC screening panel, expressed satisfaction with the process, emphasizing the importance of party participation and democracy. He stated, “Whoever emerges must be supported… it is about returning our party to power and serving the people.”

The primaries are scheduled for October 27, and both aspirants are preparing for the upcoming electoral contest.