By Omolade Adegbuyi
The most prominent Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) leader in Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said that the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Abiodun Oyebanji looks good winning the 2026 election overwhelmingly.
Fayose in an interview on Channels TV monitored by Irohinoodua said the victory of Oyebanji in 2026 is likely to be total. He praised Oyebani for uniting Ekiti people for collective aspirations in a state noted for its temperamental and often volatile political history.
He based his argument on the performance of the Governor and his leadership quality. He said the PDP in the state is currently in bad shape and that literarily, everyone in the state claims to be the leader of the party, a reference to the party becoming an atomic society in perpetual conflict with itself. Political leaders across board have commonly expressed solidarity with the Governor who is of the All Progressives Congress, (APC).
He said ‘let us be realistic. The PDP is in bad shape in Ekiti State. Even if I want to fight the enemy , there should be a party to fight him. Everybody is a leader in Ekiti PDP. It is okay. No problems. Time will tell.’
He said in terms of performance and his leadership style, Oyebanji deserves a second term. ‘But in terms of performance, in terms of leadership quality, in terms of somebody doing well as a Governor, I have said it before’ Oyebanji would win.
He said himself and former Governors Kayode Fayemi, Segun Oni and Niyi Adebayo fought each other but that in the case of Oyebani, the situation differs.
‘Me and Adebayo and Fayemi were busy fighting and Segun Oni and all of us, but this gentleman has come to unite everybody. I’m not a member of his party, but he has visited me more than 18 times. So if anyone is expecting that I will go and carry axe, cutlass to fight him, forget it o. I’m still the husband of my wife. I’m still the father of my children. I don’t care If the party wants to take power from Oyebanji, they must wake up.’
When asked is his position was based on assumptions that Oyebanji patronises him, he said Ekiti has no resources to patronise him.
‘The Governor visited Segun Oni, also Segun Oni had visited him more than twice. I have seen the Governor with Fayemi and Adebayo. His visit to me is not personal.’
He said he would not be deterred from saying that Oyebaji is doing well.
Fayose said ‘Governor Oyebanji is doing well. I’m not a member of his party. If he does well till the end, I’m not saying this along, I will come out to come and campaign for him. What matters is Ekiti. When they did the election in Edo, they voted out the Governor in the State.’
Since he assumed power, Oyebanji has received commendation from near and far for his diplomacy, his culture of transparency his ability to unite all contending political and cultural interests in Ekiti State. The next gubernatorial election in the state has been set for 2026.