• Stop demarketing PDP, ex-commissioner warns Fayose
• Says party not dead in Ekiti
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Segun Akinwumi, has said that the recent endorsements by some former governors and elite in the state will not guarantee Governor Abiodun Oyebanji’s 2026 re-election bid.
Akinwumi, a commissioner under former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, stated this in a chat with newsmen yesterday, while reacting to the recent endorsement of the governor for a second term and its potential impacts on the state.
Relatedly, a leading Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Mrs Funmilayo Ogun, has warned Fayose against demarketing the party with his anti-party actions. Ogun, therefore, appealed to members of the party to remain determined, resolute and focused to win the 2026 governorship election.
The ADC chieftain highlighted the complexities and challenges involved in the state’s political landscape, noting that the endorsements did not emanate from the masses of Ekiti people.
“The masses are disappointed and not happy with the current administration in the state. The so-called endorsements have been coming from former governors and their allies.
“These are sets of people who have been benefiting from the sharing of largesse from the Centre, with no benefits to the people of the state under the current administration.
“The news of the governor’s endorsements should be seen as noise of town criers that cannot translate into a second-term victory because the state still faces significant challenges with its roads and other critical infrastructure,” he said.
According to him, little construction work on the circular road project in outer Ekiti city should not be seen as a major achievement, due to the poor state of roads and other infrastructures in many cities across the state.
Akinwumi said that Ekiti people would do all it takes to wrestle power from the current administration in the state following the failure of the current administration to deliver any meaningful project in the state.
Ogun gave the warning yesterday, during an interaction with the 16 PDP council chairmen held in her office in Ado-Ekiti, in preparation for the 2026 governorship primary of the party.
She expressed regret over the brazen manner with which those who had benefited from using the PDP’s platform are committing anti-party activities, describing this as not only inimical to the party, but capable of demoralising the members.
Ogun urged the National Working Committee of the party, led by Iliya Umar Damagun, to wield the big stick on those allegedly displaying such tendencies now that the party was preparing for a major electoral duel in Ekiti State in 2026.
The PDP chieftain, who assured Ekiti residents that with all hands on deck and toeing the right path when the time comes, the PDP will put smiles on their faces again.
She enjoined all leaders and members who have left the party for APC or ADC to have a rethink and return to the party, expressing optimism that the PDP would win the 2026 gubernatorial election in the state.
However, Chairman of the Local Council PDP Chairmen, who doubles as the Chairman of Efon Local Council, Ajenaku Olufemi, affirmed their readiness to work for the victory of the party in the 2026 elections.
