Nigeria, June 18 -- Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will make history if he wins Saturday's off-cycle governorship election in Ekiti State.

No incumbent has won re-election since the state elected Adeniyi Adebayo as its first governor in 1999. Mr Adebayo served a single term.

Governors Ayo Fayose and Kayode Fayemi each served non-consecutive two terms, while Segun Oni did not even complete a term-he left office in 2010 after the courts voided his 2007 election.

Mr Oyebanji is confident, because Saturday's contest offers a different scenario from past elections, which featured strong opposition, tense campaigns, subtle power play, and grassroots mobilisation by the main actors. This time, the field is dot...