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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Heavyweights and bigwigs from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ekiti State have joined the coalition platform, African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the state.
The ADC said that it is on a mission to rescue Nigerians from the misgovernance of the ruling APC and enthrone a better Nigeria.
At the unveiling in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, at the weekend, which witnessed a large turnout of party members from across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state, the chairman of ADC in the state, Hon Omolayo Ilesanmi, presented membership cards to some of the new members.
The new members include former deputy governors, Prof Olusola Eleka and Dr Tae Lawal, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Amb Dare Bejide, and former Speaker of Ekiti House of Assembly, Rt Hon Gboyega Aribisogan.
Others are the former Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof Bayo Fakunle, former Commissioner for Information, Hon Akin Omole, former Chief of Staff, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Modupe Alade.
The list also includes former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Kehinde Agboola, former PDP governorship aspirant, Hon Kayode Adaramodu, former three-time Commissioner, Hon Segun Akinwumi, Hon Akanni, Hon Olayode Olaska, Hon Ayodele Adesua, Hon Yemi Arokodare, Engr Adeyemi Ogundare, among others.
In his opening address, the state’s Chairman of ADC, Hon Omolayo Ilesanmi, said, “The ADC is a party that is committed to offering pragmatic solutions and sharing a common goal of working together to ensure a better Nigeria. A nation where integrity and development take centre stage.
“The ADC in Ekiti State is committed to working in harmony with our national goals, especially as we gear up for the 2026 gubernatorial election and the 2027 general elections. We believe that through unity, discipline, and dedication, we can deliver a government that truly serves the people, champions development, and promotes good governance.
“The ADC is a party that welcomes individuals who share our core values of progress, development, discipline, integrity, and honesty. We are here to replace politics driven by corruption and deceit with transparency and accountability.
“The ADC marks a new beginning for Nigeria, a movement committed to pragmatic solutions, genuine leadership, and a future where every citizen can thrive.”
Speaking at the unveiling, former Vice President and member of ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, decried the maladministration of the APC government in the state.
He assured that the party would field a credible candidate that would defeat the ruling APC in the 2026 governorship election in the state.
Represented by the former Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Bayo Fakunle, the former Vice President appealed to the people of the state to commence a mobilisation drive at the grassroots to achieve the rescue mission of the ADC.
In his remarks, former deputy governor and the Ekiti State stakeholders’ coordinator of ADC, Prof Olusola Eleka, said the ADC is a platform for like-minded people from various political parties that will rescue Nigerians from the grips of misgovernance and corruption of the ruling APC.
“Today, we are unveiling the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the platform for the coalition team that has come together to rescue Nigerians from misgovernance, from recklessness and from lack of accountability in governance and the likes that you can think of.
“So, ADC is not just a party, it has become a platform for like-minded people that cut across different parties, from PDP, APC, LP, SDP, and others. Those who are interested in rescuing Nigeria are coming together to say no to corruption, no to intimidation, no to one-party system, and to say no to the greed that is pervading every sector of governance in Nigeria. That is what we are doing here today.”
Omole, a former Information Commissioner under the immediate past administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi, lamented the growing hardship under the government of APC.
He clarified that his defection to the ADC did not suggest that he was representing his former boss. “I am not representing anybody. I am here in person and my name is Akinbowale Omole.”
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Omole said the APC has brought nothing to the table and is unable to provide solutions to the myriad of challenges bedevilling the nation. He assured that the ADC will prioritise the welfare of the people and provide solutions to the challenges in the state and country.
“I have interacted with many Nigerians, and the welfare of the masses for now is something that is very unpleasant and there is no solution in sight as far as this government is concerned. When you hear one thing today, you hear another thing tomorrow, and we are not believing them, and their solution is not getting to the heart of the matter. People are actually suffering, and we can’t just be idle, hold our hands, and allow the common people to be subjected to this growing hardship.
“We are politicians, we visit our various communities, and even the little money we have, we give out. We are teaming up with people of like minds all over the country to find real solutions to the problems of this country. We are not listening to rhetoric anymore; we are talking about actual solutions to the problems in this country. So, it is the masses that are our focus. If we have chosen to be part of politics, we should choose the role that will actually alleviate the sufferings of the masses.
“Politics should not be for the elites, it is not a matter that should be done at the headquarters, I mean, Abuja or the state capital like when we talk of Ado-Ekiti. But we are talking of politics that touches on the welfare of the common man in the street. The issue is to use government for the welfare of the people; that is the whole essence of democracy.”
According to him, the major reason politicians defect has to do with the leader of the party, adding that followers will not remain in the party and watch the leader continue to lead astray.
“A lot depends on the leader of the party. And if the leader does not have the solution, in most cases, the followers will just sit idle and watch things as they move. But, what I will say for now is that this one we are starting is being driven by a new set of people. When I say new set of people, not that they are new in politics, but they have never been opportune to be the overall head, I mean, the president of the country.”
Also, Amb Dare Bejide, former SSG and former Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, said the ADC is determined to change the narrative in Ekiti politics and move the people and state forward.
“What you are seeing here today is a gathering of like minds from all the major political parties, like the PDP, APC, SDP, LP, and the whole ADC, to work together for the progress of the state; that is exactly what we are inaugurating today. The coalition of all members of these different parties will be able to move this state forward, and the coalition will bring changes to politics in Ekiti State.”
On his part, former Commissioner, Hon Segun Akinwumi, who recently resigned from the PDP, described the party as an “unwilling horse”.
He said that the ADC is on a collective mission to rescue Nigerians from long-suffering and untold hardship.
“I resigned my membership from the PDP over a week ago. I am now a bona fide member of the ADC. It is not good to ride on an unwilling horse.
“We are here today to formalise the coming of ADC to Ekiti State. ADC has been on the ground in the state, but right now, the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have adopted it as the coalition party to rescue Nigerians from poverty and untold hardship. The long-suffering of the people is becoming unbecoming. This is a collective rescue mission.”
He disclosed that the ADC will field a candidate in the 2026 gubernatorial election and will win against the incumbent APC in the state.
“We are contesting next year, and ADC will participate. Even in the primaries scheduled to hold in October and November, be sure that the ADC will field a candidate, and we will win. We know the wonders of winning and going to government. Between 1991 to this day, successfully, I have been involved in sponsoring and supporting people to governance, His Excellency, Bamidele Olumilua, of blessed memory; I was already a Council boss before we voted for him, during former governor Niyi Adebayo; I was the Secretary, Niyi Adebayo for Governor.
“The Governor on board now, Biodun Oyebanji, I don’t think he is getting anything right. We are going to Government House; we are not joking with this.
“And for anybody who cares to listen, no person in Ekiti State will do two terms at a go. Niyi Adebayo never did it. Ayodele Fayose was sent out abruptly, Segun Oni was equally sent out, Kayode Fayemi, with all his popularity then, he couldn’t win the second term. Then, where are we now? The reality is that we have able hands to take charge. Oyebanji has tasted enough. Ekiti is turn by turn.
“Someone (Oyebanji) who couldn’t fix the bad road from Ado to Igede to Aramoko to Efon. He couldn’t fix the shortest road through the west of Ekiti State. Someone who couldn’t fix Ado-Ijan-Iluomoba to Ikole to Ilasa to Omuo to Abuja road. He is getting sufficient allocation but using it the way he wants.
“By now, the so-called overhead bridge should have been completed. When I was the Commissioner for Due Process, we completed 1.4 kilometres flyover within two years alongside other projects such as the Governor’s office, the Ajakaiye building within the Ekiti State High Court, the Adunni Olayinka building at Fajuyi, and so many other projects. I doubt if they will be able to complete this flyover before the end of his tenure.”
