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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, Amb. Dare Bejide, has said that next year’s election is a task that requires strong commitment and hard work, urging members to remain united and committed to the project to win the 2026 poll.
Bejide, a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, gave the charge at the party’s secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state during a homecoming ceremony to welcome him back after he had received his Certificate of Return as the party’s flag bearer from the national secretariat in Abuja.
At the gathering, Bejide appreciated God for the victory and disclosed that he was dedicating the governorship ticket to God in one of the churches in Ado-Ekiti, stressing that nobody can get anything without the knowledge and approval of God.h
“I express my profound gratitude to God for the victory in the governorship primary election and I am also dedicating this ticket to Him because all powers belong to God and you cannot get anything without the knowledge and approval of God.”
He equally thanked the leadership of the party at the national and state levels, as well as members for their support and sacrifice. ” I thank the leadership of the party at the national and in the state. I am also grateful to party executives and members in the state for giving me the mandate.”
The candidate also commended other aspirants who contested the party primary with him, including former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, Otunba Emmanuel Fayose, Barr Femi Adegbite, and Apostle David Adesua.
“I also thank those who contested with me in the election. Five of us bought the nomination form. Two of them, Barr Femi Adegbite and Otunba Emmanuel Fayose, are here with me today. Yesterday, I was with Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka and we had a peaceful discussion.
“Work has started. We have a lot of work to do. To defeat an incumbent is not an easy job. But with hard-work and determination we can do it. We have started with God. We have God on our side and with hard work, we are going to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2026 election.”
Speaking on the recent attack that occurred at the ADC secretariat in the metropolis, the candidate said, “We were attacked because we are already constituting a threat to the government in power. We reported them in Abuja and that is why we have this peace here today.”
Commenting on the challenges bedevelling the country, Bejide bemoaned the rising insecurity and linked the menace to failures of leaders and politicians over the years.
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He suggested the creation of employment opportunities, creation of skill acquisition centres, that agriculture should be made more attractive, among others as some of the ways to reduce the challenges.
“All the problems border on leadership. Once the leaders are not focused, then, we have all the problems we have. There should be commitment and proper planning for the people.
“There is need to provide employment and job opportunities for the youth. When you have an idle hand, the devil provides work for the idle hand. Most of these crimes are committed by the young people.
“Also creation of skill acquisition centres, making agriculture to be more attractive to people, then, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Otunba Emmanuel Fayose, Barr Femi Adegbite, and an aspirant, Prof. Muyiwa Babalola, were present at the event to welcome the candidate. In their separate remarks, they declared their support for Bejide and promised to work with him to deliver victory for the party in the 2026 poll.
Earlier in his address, the State’s ADC Chairman, Hon. Omolayo Ilesanmi who expressed confidence in Bejide’s candidacy noted that victory will not be achieved on a platter of gold but through collective efforts.
“We still have so much to do. We all must come together and work for the victory of our party and the candidate in the 2026 election.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Homecoming committee, Barr Akin Omole, said, ” I commend you all for attending today’s event, despite the recent attack. We reported the matter to authorities in Abuja.
Our candidate has been away for almost a month, we are here to welcome him back.
“The election is coming up next year. Let us be more committed to this work, so that by this time next year our party will be in power.”
The ceremony also had in attendance the Ekiti State ADC Deputy Chairman, Hon. Dare Adekolu, former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, Former State Commissioner of Works, Hon. Segun Akinwumi, party chairmen, ward chairmen, among others.
