June 12: Afenifere Renewal Group celebrates, urges peaceful poll in Ekiti

The Ekiti State Chapter of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has felicitated the Yoruba Nation on the occasion of 2026 June 12 Democracy Day celebration.

A statement by the group’s state coordinator, Chief Bunmi Awotiku, said the celebration is in commemoration of the 1993 election, which was adjudged the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria.

“It was a day Nigeria said goodbye to ethnicity, religion, nepotism and bigotry.

“But unfortunately, the hands of the clock were turned back by the military despot led by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

“The struggle for the reversal of this satanic decision led to the death of many martyrs.

“We cannot forget Pa Abraham Adesanya, Pa Alfred Rewane, Mama Kudirat Abiola and many many others.”

The group also saluted the doggedness and self-denial that led to the present democratic experience being enjoyed in the country.

“We cannot forget the sacrifices of our National Chairman, Hon Olawale Oshun, our own Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and the current President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The group, however, stated that: “This year’s celebration would be solemn and in solidarity of the recent infraction of bandits into our neighborhoods.”

As a countdown to the June 20, 2026 election, the group urged Ekiti residents to vote for peace, progress and prosperity, even as it decried all forms of thuggery and vandalisation of electoral materials on Election Day.

The group also expressed support for incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s conformity to the tenets of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria document.

“We in Afenifere Renewal Group support his efforts to transform the State to cynosure of all and sundry,” the statement read.