Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has declared his support for the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) no longer has a strong presence in the state.
Fayose made the statement on Monday in Ado Ekiti while speaking with journalists ahead of the June 20, 2026, governorship election. According to him, the PDP is no longer active in Ekiti as party meetings are no longer held and members have become divided. He said those contesting under the PDP were wasting their time because the party had lost its influence in the state.
The former governor stated that although he is not a member of the APC and has no plans to join the ruling party, he supports Governor Oyebanji because of his performance since assuming office. Fayose described Oyebanji as a hardworking leader who has earned the trust and admiration of the people of Ekiti, adding that the governor deserves another term.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed June 20, 2026, for the governorship election in Ekiti State. Governor Oyebanji has already been confirmed as the APC candidate, while four aspirants — Dr. Wole Oluyede, Mrs. Funmi Ogun, Mr. Funso Ayeni, and Mr. Peter Obafemi — are contesting for the PDP ticket.
Reacting to Fayose’s comments, the PDP Chairman in Ekiti State, Tunji Odeyemi, faulted the former governor’s remarks, saying the party remains strong and ready for the election. He noted that the four aspirants were already mobilising delegates across the 177 wards in preparation for the primaries.
Odeyemi maintained that the PDP had been reorganised to challenge the ruling APC in the upcoming poll and expressed confidence that the party’s candidate would defeat Governor Oyebanji at the polls.
The political atmosphere in Ekiti continues to heat up as major parties prepare for the 2026 election, with Fayose’s declaration adding a new twist to the race.