Ayodele Fayose says the PDP is dead in Ekiti, praising APC governor Oyebanji and predicting a landslide win in the 2026 election.
Ayodele Fayose has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party is “dead” in Ekiti State, insisting that its governorship aspirants are “fooling themselves” ahead of the 2026 election.
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The former governor, who remains a senior figure in the PDP, spoke candidly with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday, describing the party as “totally moribund” and without any meaningful structure at state level.
“In the first place, where is the PDP in Ekiti?” Ayodele Fayose asked. “The party is dead here. There is no hope. The saddest thing for any man is to be fooling himself. Most of those contesting today, I brought them up, but the party, for now, is dead.”
Fayose, however, reserved strong praise for Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, whom he said had performed impressively since taking office. Despite reaffirming his PDP membership, Fayose pledged to support Oyebanji, predicting a landslide victory for him in the June 2026 governorship poll.
“Oyebanji is doing well, and I have said it without apologies,” he added. “I will never join the APC, but I won’t condemn what is good simply because I’m in opposition. Oyebanji is the man the people of Ekiti want till 2030.”
Reacting to the remarks, the Ekiti PDP Chairman, Tunji Odeyemi, described Fayose’s comments as “unfortunate”, stressing that the party remained vibrant and ready for the coming contest.
“It is unfortunate for a former governor to speak against the party that made him governor twice,” Odeyemi said.
“He is not God — the PDP will surprise him. We have credible aspirants, and our primary will be transparent. The PDP will be victorious next year.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission has set 20 June 2026 for the governorship election. Governor Oyebanji will fly the APC flag, while four aspirants — Wole Oluyede, Funmi Ogun, Funso Ayeni, and Peter Obafemi — are contesting for the PDP ticket.
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With tensions rising and loyalties shifting, Ayodele Fayose’s declaration has added a dramatic twist to Ekiti’s evolving political landscape
