A former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has called on the four governorship aspirants in the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to stop deceiving themselves ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
Fayose, a chieftain of the PDP explained that the party has suffered irreparable damage in the country and especially in the state, reiterating his resolve that incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji would be supported to return for second term during next year's poll.
Nigerian Tribune reports that no fewer than four aspirants have obtained expression of interest and nomination forms to contest November 8, 2025 governorship primaries of the party.
The four aspirants are former Commissioner for Works, Mrs Funmilayo Ogun; a medical practitioner, Dr Wole Oluyede; an aviation expert, Peter Obafemi; and Dr Funso Ayeni.
Speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Monday, Fayose noted that the PDP has lost its relevance in the state with no visible meetings or interactions among members across the 16 Local Government Areas.
He added that his resolve to support and work for the victory of governor Oyebanji in the June 20, 2026 is based on the achievements and success of the administration in the last three years
Fayose described the governor as a unifier who has demonstrated uncommon leadership qualities with his style of governance in bringing all leaders together regardless of political differences in the interest of the state.
When asked about the fate of the four aspirants of the party, the former said, "The saddest of all stories of any man's life is to be fooling himself. The worst in your life as a PDP member or as somebody living in this world is to be fooling yourself.
"Tell me where you've seen a gathering of PDP, a credible gathering where people coming together to fight for the PDP in this state.
"I am a major stakeholder, majority of the people contesting I brought them up and I'm telling you that the party for now, I don't know what tomorrow holds, the party is dead in Ekiti."
But, the PDP chairman in Ekiti State, Tunji Odeyemi condemned the remarks of the former governor against the governorship aspirants and the party, noting that the party would bounce back to challenge the incumbent governor during the next year's poll.
Odeyemi explained that the four aspirants are canvassing and mobilising for votes from delegates across the 177 wards, promising that credible primary would be conducted for an acceptable and popular candidate to emerge during the next saturday's exercise.
The party chairman said, "It is very unfortunate for a former governor to be making such statements against a party that made him governor twice, but he is not God, the party will surprise him.
"The four aspirants are credible individuals, and the primary will be fair and transparent for us to know our candidate who will square up against the governor and I can say that our party will be victorious next year."