NEWS
Ekiti Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, Under Fire Over Alleged Complaint About Online Supporters
The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has come under criticism on social media following remarks allegedly interpreted as a complaint about the performance of his online supporters in defending his administration.
The controversy began after an X user drew attention to what they described as the governor’s apparent frustration with his “data boys”, a term often used online to refer to individuals or groups perceived to defend political figures and promote their interests across social media platforms.
The post questioned the optics of a sitting governor publicly expressing dissatisfaction with the level of online support surrounding his administration, particularly amid ongoing public debates about government performance.
The X user argued that such a situation raises concerns about the alleged use of public resources to sustain online political support, while accusing the governor of expecting his supporters to do more to counter criticism of his administration.
The post further described the situation as an indication of what the user considers a troubling culture in Nigerian politics, where political battles increasingly extend from traditional media and rallies to social media platforms.
The development has sparked reactions among social media users, with some questioning whether government officials should be engaging directly with online political supporters, while others argue that governors and other public office holders are increasingly being forced to defend their records in the digital space.
The controversy also comes amid growing scrutiny of how political actors use social media to shape public perception, respond to criticism and promote the achievements of their administrations.
For critics, the episode highlights broader concerns about political communication in Nigeria and the boundary between defending an administration’s record and mobilising partisan online support.
However, the allegations surrounding the use of public funds to finance online supporters remain claims made by the X user and would require independent evidence to establish their accuracy.