Ekiti 2026: PDP national body calls for unity amongst members as party inaugurates ad hoc delegates for guber primary

 By Idowu Adebomi, Ado-Ekiti

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has begun its preparations for the  2026 gubernatorial  election in Ekiti State  by inuagurating ad hoc delegates ahead of the party’s primary election.

The national body also sent a  seven-member panel congress committee, led by the Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Abdul Ningi who chaired and  inaugurated the ad hoc delegates to oversee the party’s primary election in the state.

The ad hoc delegates were drawn from the 177 wards across the sixteen Local Government Areas of the state. Each ward has three members comprising two males and one female.Senator Ningi who first addressed governorship aspirants, leaders and stakeholders at the PDP secretariat in Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti, the capital ekiti state, explained that the duties of the ad hoc delegates is to oversee and supervise the process of the primary election, ensure proper documentation and transparency during the exercise.

The federal lawmaker also appealed to the party members to remain steadfast and urged the aspirants to embrace love and unity, for Ekiti PDP to be able to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2026 election.

“We want to reposition the Peoples Democratic Party and that means we have to follow the laid-down rules and regulations so we do not run foul of the law in any sphere.

“This exercise is not about the emergence of any particular candidate, whether you want to be a governor, a Senator, a House of Representatives member, a state Assembly member, Local Government chairman, councillor and so on.

“This is to lay a foundation to each and every member of the Ekiti State PDP that we are ready and we are looking for a very serious beginning once again and therefore, we came with no mindset. Our mindset is what is good for this state. Our mindset is how do we resuscitate this very powerful party particularly in Ekiti.

“You are all living witnesses to what is happening to our party, but beyond what is happening, we know as a matter of fact that whatever happens, there must be a reason behind it. The party has made mistakes in the past. We have realised our mistakes and we are coming together once more" he noted

“This is a Nigerian party and it is not a personalised party and I want to say clearly that this party is beyond personalities. And that is why some of us from day one we joined in 1998, we refused to look back because we believe this party can provide everything for everyone in Nigeria. You will recall this party provided for a minority to be the president of this country that is in the name of Goodluck Jonathan. This party gave him a mandate to become the president of this country. This party also gave a Yoruba man, it also gave a Hausa man, so this party is for all of us and therefore we expect this exercise to be seamless. We want to make sure that every stakeholder has a say that is what we are trying to do today and we must make sure after this exercise there is no acrimony because we are here to deliver an exercise that is devoid of any personal interest.

“This is Ekiti. It is not under the rulership of PDP. We do not have a governor, we do not have a Senator, so there is no money here. What we have is just sacrifice and service to Ekiti people and I want to assure you even where there is a governor or a Senator, we cannot compromise what we have come to do here today and I want to give you my words that everyone of you that is seated here should be comforted with the fact that our desire, our driving force is to make sure that the foundation of Ekiti once again is built today and therefore, when you have three-man ad hoc delegates that will be elected before us, they are delegates that are for everybody. 

Once they are elected by the people and you want to use their mandate, there should not be any trouble. We are not in position to have infighting in Nigeria, not to talk of Ekiti State. We know with the few governors that we have we can drive this party to success. With the faces and personalities that I am seeing here I know it is something that is doable. It is something that is possible. It is your state.

“The party has ruled the state before and you know why we missed it. You know the situation we are all in, whether you are happy or not. This is an opportunity for all of us to galvanise ourselves. As a family, you should trust yourselves that you can deliver democratic dividends to your people, that is why we are here.”

The Chairman of the party in the state, Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyemi, said that the nomination and the inauguration of the ad hoc delegates is sacrosanct to the success of the forthcoming gubernatorial primary elections. He disclosed that ad hoc committee is saddled with the responsibility of managing the process of the primary to ensure a smooth and transparent poll.

“I believe in transparency and when you look at the calibre of people sent from Abuja to conduct the congress you will see integrity which will be manifested all through and as you can see this congress is corrupt-free, open and transparent that we can be proud of, that others can even emulate from us.”

The former acting governor also disclosed that the results that were collated were properly vetted, signed and well documented from the wards of each and every local government.

“There is no secrecy and hanky panky here, we are doing all in the interest of the PDP in Ekiti State and because this is a new chapter, we will do everything possible to set a new record that will seamlessly usher in a new dispensation that will see the party triumph in subsequent elections.”

Odeyemi also called on members of the party to shun acts that are capable of causing disunity in the party, saying the PDP is on the right track to contest and win future elections.

“Like I have said before this is a new chapter and we will reposition this party that is our first mission and vision. The PDP in Ekiti will lay a very solid foundation that will stand the test of time and the structure will no doubt be strong enough and with all things be equal and with the cooperation of all our members and the support of the national leaders we will occupy the government house.”

One of the governorship aspirants, Hon. Funso Ayeni, also expressed optimism that the party is on the right path to send out the incumbent administration from the seat of power in 2026.

The aspirant lamented that Ekiti State has suffered grassroots development, bad roads, serious unemployment, hunger and poverty in the state.

“Despite the huge allocations coming into the state, it is quite unfortunate that the present governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has only been active on jamborees and unnecessary outings. For good three years Oyebanji has not commissioned any tangible project and the state is worse off than the way he met it. So, we are repositioned to send him out of Oke Ayoba next year.”

On what mode of primary will be used for the election, Ayeni expressed trust and confidence in the ad hoc committee and predicted that the party will find a common ground before, during and after the primary election.

“Senator Ningi and his team are very trustworthy and as you can see the process has been smooth, fair and transparent and I am sure the PDP is now back on track.”

Other members in the seven-member panel congress committee, chaired by Senator Ningi, are Rt. Hon. Fred Agbedi (Secretary), Barr. Dupe Aisida (Member), Hon. Gbolayemi Ogunseye (Member), Mrs. Folasade Esan (Member).

The list also includes Ternia Bergha (Supportive staff) and Suleiman Zubkar (Supportive staff).The congress committee also visited some wards across some local governments in the state. They were received by excited party members who promised to continue to work for the success of the party.

Ekiti PDP has four governorship aspirants who will be participating in the forthcoming primary election of the party. They are Dr. Wole Oluyede, Hon. Funso Ayeni, Dr. Peter Obafemi and Hon. (Mrs.) Funmi Ogun.