Former Ekiti State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Ayodele Fayose, has stirred controversy after declaring that the PDP is “dead” in Ekiti State and that all governorship aspirants on the party’s platform are “fooling themselves.”
Fayose made the remarks on Monday while speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
He said the PDP, which once held power in the state, had become moribund and lacked the structure or strength to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“In the first place, where is the PDP in Ekiti? To be very honest, where are the party members? Where are PDP meetings being held? The party is totally moribund. It is just the same thing happening at the national level,” Fayose said.
He continued, “If there is hope, then you can cling to the hope and bring out life out of it. There is no hope. The PDP is dead here in Ekiti. The saddest story of any man’s life is to be fooling himself.”
The former governor, who was a major political force in the PDP for years, said that while he would not join the APC, he would support Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election bid because of his impressive performance in office.
“Oyebanji is doing well. I am not a member of the APC and I will never be. But I will not be part of anybody who wants to destroy what is good just because I am in the opposition. Oyebanji is the man the people of Ekiti want till 2030, and I am in support,” Fayose declared.
Governor Oyebanji, who is seeking a second term under the APC, will face opposition from candidates of the PDP and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the forthcoming poll.
The PDP has four governorship aspirants – Dr. Wole Oluyede, Mrs. Funmi Ogun, Mr. Funso Ayeni, and Peter Obafemi – who will battle for the party’s ticket during Saturday’s primaries.
Reacting to Fayose’s remarks, the PDP Chairman in Ekiti State, Tunji Odeyemi, condemned the former governor’s comments, describing them as “unfortunate” and “disrespectful” to the party that made him governor twice.
Odeyemi said the PDP had been repositioned to challenge the APC and was determined to reclaim power in 2026.
“It is very unfortunate for a former governor to make such statements against a party that made him governor twice. But he is not God; the party will surprise him,” Odeyemi said.
He added that the four aspirants were “credible individuals” and that the primaries would be “fair, transparent, and competitive” as the PDP works to regain the confidence of Ekiti voters.
