BAO Wields Axe On Aide Arrested For Thuggery

... As Rep Akinlayo Dismisses Claims Of Thugs Sponsoring 

By Joseph Sunday 

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has suspended his appointee, Dayo Ibijowo, popularly known as Ijaya, following his arrest by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Thursday over alleged armed thuggery. 

Ibijowo was one of 11 suspected armed thugs paraded by the Ekiti State Police Command on Friday. 

Police say the group was allegedly hired by a serving member of the House of Representatives to disrupt the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly primary scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Ikun-Ekiti. 

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Governor Oyebanji said Ibijowo will remain suspended pending the conclusion of investigations. 

The Governor reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance for lawlessness and criminality, noting that he had just concluded a violence-free campaign tour of the 16 local government areas where he repeatedly called for peaceful conduct during the electioneering season. 

Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, Hon. Akinlayo Kolawole Davidson, has dismissed claims and allegations linking him to sponsoring of thugs in the State. 

In a personal statement, Akinlayo described the claims as “malicious, baseless, and the handiwork of political opponents” seeking to damage his reputation ahead of the primary. 

He maintained that he has never sponsored, encouraged, or associated with any act capable of disrupting the party’s internal electoral process. 

The federal lawmaker urged party members and the public to disregard the allegation and called on security agencies to investigate individuals spreading false information that could create tension within the APC. 

Akinlayo reaffirmed his commitment to party unity, internal democracy, and a violence-free primary, stressing that he remains focused on the development of Ekiti North Federal Constituency II and Ekiti State at large.