From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2026 election in Ekiti State, Otunba Emmanuel Ajisafe Fayose, has said that the gale of endorsements of the state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for a second term in office are mere jamborees and cannot translate to victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming poll in the state.
Fayose, an ICT guru and Artificial Intelligence (AI) specialist, made the remarks in Ado-Ekiti and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Governments, during his statewide grassroots familiarisation tour to the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
Fayose disclosed that what informed his decision to join the governorship race is to correct the anomalies of the current APC government, promote unity in the PDP and use his wealth of experience to bring prosperity to Ekiti State.
He explained that the reason for embarking on the tour is to solicit the support of party leaders, executive members and supporters across the state on his ambition and to clinch the party’s ticket in the governorship primary election in the state.
Fayose commenced the tour on Tuesday, first with Ekiti Central Senatorial District, comprising five local governments -Ado-Ekiti, Efon, Ijero, Irepodun/Ifelodun, and Ekiti West.
Fayose, who was warmly received in each of the local governments visited by a large gathering of PDP leaders and members, noted that the visit to Ekiti North and Ekiti South Senatorial Districts will hold coming weeks.
Addressing party people in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state, Fayose appreciated them for their steadfastness and support for the party. He appealed to them to embrace unity to be able to defeat the APC in the governorship election and other future elections in the state.
“Let us embrace unity and oneness. Let us shun anything that will divide us.
Let’s go into the forthcoming election with one indivisible house. We need oneness to defeat this APC government, and we will win by God’s grace.”
Speaking on the multiple endorsements of Oyebanji ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state, he said, ” The endorsements are mere jamborees. They are using the endorsement as a platform to deceive the people. They are paid endorsements. They cannot turn to victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship poll.
“The question the people should continue to ask Oyebanji is, what has he been doing with the monthly allocation coming to this state? This government has not done well at all. They have performed below expectations.
“There is hunger and poverty in the land. People are suffering. What is coming in from the federal government as allocation is almost times four of what they used to get. There is nothing to justify what Oyebanji and the APC government have been doing with the monthly allocations that have been coming into the state.
“There is nothing to show for all the money this government has been collecting. There is nothing to point at as development. No project has been commissioned and this is almost three years in office. Ekiti is not developing under his leadership.
“All they have been chorusing is four plus four which is equals to zero. We need a change of government. Ekiti people need PDP in power. They are praying fervently for us to return to government house because when the PDP was in power, the economy was far better than this.”
Fayose continued, “The people’s mandate that is given to Oyebanji is to ensure the people enjoy the dividends of democracy. Ekiti people are tired and wary of the APC-led government in this state. By God’s grace, come 2026, I am going to take that mandate from Oyebanji because he is mismanaging the mandate. I am challenging him to come and give account of what he has been using the mandate to do since coming to office.”
Ado-Ekiti Local Government Chairman, Hon. Femi Odeyemi, who presented Fayose to the people, saluted his courage to vie for the number one seat in the state.
“In this situation that the PDP is, for somebody to come out and say he wants to vie for the position of the governor. It is only the person who strongly believes that the PDP can take over power in 2026 who can come out and declare interest. We thank you for the courage.
“We Ado people do things together, and because of this, our support is always channelled to one person. If it is you who will bring us relief, God will help you to get there. We have endorsed you. May God help you to achieve this.
“Let us support him to achieve this ambition. PDP will take over power in next year’s poll. Like you all know PDP is a party that remembers the masses. When we were in power, our government prioritised the welfare of the people. We were able to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and Ekiti State, and the people prospered under the PDP.”
Party chieftains and members present at the gathering in Ado-Ekiti are Hon. Kayode Yusuf, Hon.(Mrs) Abeni Olayinka, Alhaji Raheem Adeparusi, Hon. Fali Arije, Hon. Musa Arogundade, Hon. Kayode Olamide, and Women leaders among others.
At the event in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Fayose, who also hails from the council, appealed to the people to support his ambition and emergence at the primary.
“I came here today to greet you and to let you know about my ambition to contest for the governorship election under this great party, PDP, in 2026. It is evidently clear that, without you behind me, nothing can be achieved; therefore, I solicit your support and prayer towards realising this goal, and I believe it will surely come to pass.”
Fayose who said that he has come to join hands with the party leaders to build the PDP and take it to its pride of place and not to destroy it, noted that he has been a member of the party since 2000.
He appealed to them not to judge him by the roles played by his elder brother, Former Governor Ayodele Fayose, in the party, noting that they are two different characters.
“It is evidently clear that same parents will always give birth to every twins in the world, but, I want to point out that their characters, manners and approach to issues are different. The two cannot act the same way and cannot have the same mindsets; therefore, I should be judged for who I am and not for what my brother is.”
Speaking, the PDP Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Ademola Alade, said the PDP needs a unifier considering its present situation in the state and country.
“It is no doubt that our party is in shambles right now. Our party is not well fitted right now from the national to the ward levels. And that is why at this point in time we need a unifier. We need somebody who can bring people together. We need somebody who can mobilise well for the party and we believe you are fit to come into this shoe.
“You are not the only one contesting, but just that we have a preference for you because you are a son of the soil. It is on that note that we have a special love for you. But you need to work for this party.
“The era of people selling us out is gone. We struggled to be here. All our people here struggled to be on these seats today, and we don’t want to witness the last experience. The last experience was not palatable for us at all. We don’t want people who will trade off this party like it happened the other time.
“We know you have pedigree, so we are counting on you so that people like you can salvage this party. We want you to do more to promote activities that can bring more people into this party, and we believe you are serious about it. This will determine our relationship with you going forward.
“In Irepodun /Ifelodun, we have a structure from the apex body to the ward members, and there is no way anybody can bypass this structure. I am here as a servant of the leaders and members of this party. They give me directives. I can’t do anything without the support of my leaders.
“Irepodun/ Ifelodun is one, and our vote is a block vote. Whatever my leaders tell you here is the truth.”
Party leaders and members present at the meeting in the council area include Hon. Oke Michael, Hon. Dapo Olagunju, Hon. Peter Akinwumi, Hon. Adekanbi J.B, among other party members.