2026 guber : We will unseat APC, PDP vows as party leaders storm Ekiti for Team Wole Oluyede campaign inauguration

By Idowu Adebomi The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, has vowed to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) led administration in the 2026 gubernatorial election in the state, citing the failures of the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to execute masses-oriented projects since assumption of office on October 16, 2022.

The statement was made by an Ondo State PDP Chieftain and Chairman, Forum of National Ex Officio, Hon. Clement Faboyede, during the Inaguration of Team Wole Oluyede Ekiti 2026 Governorship Campaign Committee, on Tuesday, in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Hon. Faboyede, who is also a former Commissioner for Community Development in Ondo State, berated the government of Oyebanji, for investing in what he described as white elephant projects and neglecting the basic needs of the people of the state.

According to him, state funds are being used for jamborees and funfairs while critical infrastructures suffer total neglect. " Apart from using Ekiti funds to service former governors, the government of the APC has refused to commission any tangible projects since the last two years. They borrow and hire military aircrafts to land in the Ekiti cargo airport that they have used as conduit pipe to milk the state's resources," he noted.

While endorsing Oluyede as the most acceptable candidate across the entire board of the PDP, Hon. Faboyede called on the party executives, ward leaders and members to work for the emergence of Oluyede as the PDP flag bearer in the 2026 elections even as he also appealed to the people of Ekiti to reject the APC and its candidate as the ruling party has failed to deliver on its campaign promises. The former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kolawole Oluwawole, in his remarks, said it is not by accident that Oluyede is getting the massive support ahead of the primaries and general elections, noting his good records are already speaking for him across the state.

" This time we are going to get it right because the people of Ekiti are tired of these many lies and deceits from the incumbent governor and his party and it is time to heed the call of Ekiti people to stop this unwarranted suffering and smiling situation," he concluded. 

 The PDP's Southwest Publicity Secretary who is also in charge of Media and Publicity of Team Wole Oluyede Ekiti 2026 Campaign Committee, Chief Sanya Atofarati, maintained that the PDP has continued to survive despite external and internal crises which threatened to tear the party apart. While thanking leaders and members for their steadfastness and belief in the party, he assured the party faithful that their will be no more room for those leaders who scuttled the party's chances in the last election. 

 " Those elections that we lost were as result of some respected leaders who acted for their selfish interest and betrayed the party and now that they have thrown themselves overboard, we have moved on from them." The Southwest Zonal Organising Secretary of the party, Barr. Benson Amuwa, who inaugurated the Team's Committee members, said contrary to some people's beliefs, the party is healthy and waxing stronger, assuring that the issues at the national level will be resolved. " Any APC individual cannot pull a crowd of this nature, it can only be in the PDP because people love the party and what it has done in the past." 

 When reminded that two former governors of the party in Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose and Segun Oni, have already endorsed the Governor Oyebanji for a second term, Hon. Amuwa, said their decision is not going to affect the chances of the PDP in the election.

" The two people you mentioned used the party's platform to achieve whatever they become today and so the party has moved on from their games." Oluyede was the gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2022 Governorship election in Ekiti. He defected to the PDP after series of consultations from the PDP leaders across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state. 

 Oluyede formally declared his intention to join the governorship race, saying Ekiti deserves a government that has the best interest of the people at heart and will bring prosperity to the people of the state. 

 " I am not contesting for my personal interest but we have been shortchanged by the APC and we have rebuilt the party from the grassroots and with the trust of the people Ekiti will smile again." The inauguration was well-attended as leaders of the party from the Southwest states of Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ogun were in attendance. Also, former and present executives of the party, members and supporters from across the 16 Local Government Areas of the Ekiti State, graced the occasion.