A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2026 election in Ekiti State, Otunba Emmanuel Fayose, has berated his elder brother and former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose, for throwing his weight behind the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to continue in office beyond 2026.
The younger Fayose, who said his elder brother benefitted immensely from the PDP and also governed the state twice on the platform of the party, stated that his recent endorsement of Governor Oyebanji amounted to total betrayal of the PDP.
The governorship aspirant, in a statement on Thursday and provided to Daily Sun, described the action as shameful, deceitful, and unfair to the PDP.
Ayodele Fayose had, in a statewide endorsement ceremony held in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state, on Monday, for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji, declared his support for the duo to continue their administrations in office till 2031 and 2030 respectively.
The ex-governor, who wore a PDP-branded cap at the event, said he is not a member of the APC and will never be, but promised to work for the victory of Governor Oyebanji in next year’s poll.
The statement read, “I watched with utter dismay the charade carried out by supposed leaders of Ekiti State. I am referring to the supposed endorsement of Governor Biodun Oyebanji by some past governors of the state. What was even a source of concern for me was the involvement of former Governor Ayodele Fayose.
“While acknowledging that the former governor has the right and he is at liberty to take any political stance that he deems fit and proper, I am utterly disgusted that he had to carry the PDP along in his show of shame.
“My concern is such that, how could someone who had in the past benefitted immensely from the PDP on many occasions now wants to be seen to be undermining the party in a brazen and shameful manner? For me, this is shameful and does not reflect the Fayose ethos of Omoluabi in any way.
“The event was a show of shame, with the strength of all acclaimed former governors, defectors, and rented crowd, it was far less than ten thousand people, out of three million Ekiti population, which clearly showed that the people are tired of the APC administration in the state. It was a total rejection.”
The statement added, “I urge Ayodele Fayose to leave the PDP if he doesn’t have anything to bring to the table in terms of repositioning the party and restoring it to its pride of place, rather than ridiculing himself in the public space.”
