Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has declared that he has kept faith with the people by fulfilling his campaign promises, completing most inherited projects, and delivering on key development initiatives ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

Oyebanji stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, shortly after submitting his nomination and expression of interest forms at the All Progressives Congress National Secretariat, where he was received by a crowd of supporters.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the Ekiti governorship election for July 20, 2026, while the APC primary will hold on October 27, 2025.

The governor said his administration had achieved nearly 80 per cent completion of inherited projects, stressing that they belong to the people and were funded with public resources.

“When we campaigned three years ago, it was on the mantra of continuity for shared prosperity. In less than three years, we have achieved close to 80 per cent completion of inherited projects. We have also created conditions for productivity by investing in infrastructure, electricity, and healthcare. For example, over 60 communities that had been in darkness for nearly two decades are now connected to the grid.

“We believe productivity also requires a strong healthcare system. From primary to tertiary levels, facilities have been upgraded. We pay doctors and health workers parity with their federal counterparts while keeping up with gratuities and pensions. Beyond infrastructure and welfare, we are reforming the workforce to restore trust in government. Trust in leadership is critical, and I want to be remembered as a governor who kept his promises,” Oyebanji said.

On his priorities going forward, the governor pledged to deepen investment in education.

“One area I am determined to improve further is education. My desire is to see modern learning tools such as electronic boards in all schools in Ekiti. Education remains the pathway to productivity and prosperity, and we will focus more on innovation and technology to prepare our people for the 21st century,” he added.

Addressing speculation of division within the APC in Ekiti, Oyebanji dismissed the claims.

“The beauty of democracy is freedom of expression. People are entitled to their opinions, but the massive show of support here today does not reflect a divided party. Former governors, deputy governors, lawmakers, local government chairmen, and other stakeholders are united behind APC in Ekiti. As for my relationship with former Governor Fayemi, it remains cordial. Talk of division is mere propaganda,” he said.

He also urged party leaders to help the state break the jinx of one-term governorships.

“Since the creation of Ekiti, no governor has completed a second term in one stretch. We see it as a jinx that must be broken because it has retarded development. The people don’t want current gains reversed,” Oyebanji said, while affirming his willingness to subject himself to the primary process.

Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who accompanied the governor, said Oyebanji had delivered on infrastructure, human capital, and stability, stressing that for the first time, Ekiti stakeholders across divides were united behind one governor.

APC National Vice Chairman (South-West), Isaacs Kekemeke, assured the governor of a fair process.

“We have seen you and heard you. We have never witnessed a submission of forms like this before. Go back and do in Ekiti what you have done here today,” he said.

Dignitaries at the event included Ekiti’s first elected governor, Niyi Adebayo; former Senate Minority Leader, Biodun Olujimi; Senate Spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu; and House of Representatives Spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, among others.

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The government of Burkina Faso has announced the removal of visa fees for all African nationals, as a step to strengthen Pan-African solidarity and encourage the free movement of people and goods.

BBC reports that the Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, disclosed the policy shift on Thursday after a cabinet meeting presided over by the country’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

“From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees,” Sana said.

He, however, clarified that travellers would still be required to submit an online application for approval before entry.

Citizens of West African countries already travel to Burkina Faso without visas, but the move comes amid uncertainty over the country’s status in the Economic Community of West African States.

Along with Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso withdrew from the bloc earlier this year, raising concerns about future travel arrangements within the region.

The Sahelian nation now joins Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya in adopting policies that make travel easier for Africans, in line with the African Union’s push for greater integration across the continent.

According to the BBC, a statement from the junta’s information service said the new visa-free policy “for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture, and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad.”

Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, has styled himself as a Pan-Africanist leader critical of colonial influence and Western dominance.

His popularity has been amplified across the continent, particularly on social media.

Burkina Faso, like its neighbours Mali and Niger, has been battling Islamist insurgents for over a decade, with nearly 40 per cent of its territory estimated to be outside state control.

Despite closer security ties with Russia and repeated promises by the junta to restore stability, attacks on civilians and the military remain frequent.

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Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has thrown his weight behind a new bill seeking to grant full autonomy to all 44 local government councils in the state.

The governor’s backing was contained in a statement issued on Friday by his spokesperson, Sunusi  Dawakin Tofa.

Yusuf, who presided over the 31st Executive Council meeting at the Government House Annex in Kwankwasiyya City, said the council had approved the transmission of the bill to the State House of Assembly for legislative consideration.

In Nigeria, local government autonomy has been a long-debated issue in the country’s federal structure.

The Nigerian Constitution recognises three tiers of government—federal, state, and local—but in practice, local government councils often lack true independence, especially in terms of finance and administration.

In many states, local councils are heavily controlled by state governments, which limit their ability to make decisions, execute projects, or access funds directly from federal allocations.

This has contributed to slow grassroots development, weak accountability, and inefficiencies in service delivery.

According to him, the proposed law would give local government councils both financial and administrative independence, allowing them to directly manage resources, execute projects without delays, and make decisions that reflect the needs of their communities.

“Local government autonomy is essential for good governance, accountability, and the acceleration of development at the grassroots,” the governor said, describing the reform as a necessary step toward deepening democracy in the state.

He further expressed confidence that members of the State House of Assembly would support the bill, which he insisted aligns with the overall interest of the people of Kano.

Local government autonomy has been a recurring issue in Nigeria’s democratic development, rooted in constitutional debates, power struggles between states and councils, and the drive for improved service delivery at the grassroots.

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