The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West zone has said that the Ekiti State chapter of the party is being repositioned for success in the 2026 governorship election.
It also said the party is alive and active as the process of resolving the crisis rocking the party’s national leadership is ongoing.
The party leaders however dismissed the influence of PDP chieftain and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, in deciding the outcome of election in the state.
The publicity secretary of PDP in South West, Chief Sanya Atofarati, stated this in Ikere Ekiti during the inauguration of various committees and sub-committees set up to galvanise support for a PDP governorship aspirant in the state, Dr Wole Oluyede.
Thousands of Oluyede loyalists and party supporters were in the town to witness the inauguration of the committees christened “Team Oluyede for Ekiti 2026” drawn from all the 16 local government areas of the state.
Atofarati who led other leaders of the party in Southwest to the event charged the party leaders, members to be united and get ready for the task ahead, saying PDP is determined to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“Our leaders from the national and zone are here in solidarity to give support to the party in the state and to show that , this time around, we are not letting go , we are believing in PDP and we will work together with all members of the party to achieve victory. At national, zonal and state level, PDP is greatly united.
“So, the government in power should start preparing to leave in 2026, because there is no more place the antics of divide and rule they are orchestrating in our party again. We are appealing to all our people in Ikere Ekiti and whole South senatorial district of the state , not to accept any deputy governorship ticket from anybody but only accept Governorship ticket.
“This work we can’t do alone but we need the support of our people from the central and north senatorial district to achieve our aim of winning the 2026 guber poll”.
The PDP zonal spokesman, who warned those he branded as impostors to stop claiming to speak on behalf of Ekiti PDP on relationship with PDP thanked Dr Oluyede for offering to lead the struggle.
“By God’s grace, this marks the beginning of our journey to the government house”.
Also speaking, the zonal organising secretary of PDP in the South West, Hon. Benson Amuwa, said the party is still viable and strong with people still willing to contest elections and run on the platform of the party.
Amuwa said, “PDP is rebuilding and gradually we will fully bounce back to take our rightful place. We are going to have the NEC meeting and national convention very soon and the party will get it right.
The PDP zonal leader accused former Ekiti governor, Ayodele Fayose and others who have benefitted from the party and used its platform to achieve their political ambition destabilising the party.
He, however, said that Fayose has lost his political base and steam and his support can’t give victory to anybody or party in any election.
“Fayose supported his own biological son to run on the platform of the party for house of Representatives in the last general election he didn’t win. It shows there is no support he can give another person that will translate to victory.
“With due respect to our leaders, the likes of Fayose have lost their base and once the base is taken away, nothing stands since you cannot put something on nothing. All they are doing now is to use their old and former identity to get whatever from the incumbent governor.What made Fayose a governor then, were the people”.
Amuwa added that the former governor seems not to know what is going on in the country and Nigerians are tired of the suffering they are presently going through.
“It is the people who are feeling it, that know it and they are the ones who are going to vote, not Fayose, so how much support is he going to bring. We are not losing anybody by losing our leader Fayose as a party. He has taken his share and chosen to go away. But the masses of Ekiti know that this is the time for PDP to move forward and higher”.
While alluding to the fact that politics is not always about what or who one is, he said , in 2014, the PDP had 22 state governors and lost the presidential election to the APC who at that time had less than 11 state governors. In 2023, APC had almost 19 governors and President Bola Tinubu was able to win in just 12 states but Peter Obi’s Labour had no governor and won in 12 states while PDP’s Atiku Abubakar won in 12 states , what it means is that , it is the people that determine who wins elections”.
On why Ekiti people will make Dr Oluyede their choice, Amuwa said,”For a person in mode of of Dr Oluwole Oluyede, who made money out of government and investment it into his community, empowered people, build industry, the people will appreciate and reciprocate his good gesture to them with their trust by voting for him.
“The electorate will only vote for people they trust not any former this former that”.
Other PDP leaders present at the event include, former Ondo State Commissioner for Community Development, Hon. Clement Faboyede, former Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kola Oluwole, Hon Wale Ayeni, Hon. Lanre Fajuyi, Special Assistant to Osun State Governor, Hon. Rasak Adewoyin, Hon. Samuel Agboola among others.
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