- Atiku Abubakar says ADC will win 2026 Ekiti governorship election
- Key loyalists of Fayose, Fayemi and Oni defect to ADC
- Coalition includes former deputy governors, SSGs, and top aides
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will take over Ekiti State in the 2026 governorship election, urging incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji to begin preparing his handover notes.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Atiku made the statement at the weekend during the unveiling of the ADC’s Ekiti State chapter in Ado-Ekiti, where he was represented by Professor Bayo Fakunle of Obafemi Awolowo University. He praised Ekiti residents for their past support and assured them the ADC would deliver better governance.
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Former Deputy Governor Prof. Kolapo Olusola, who led the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) bloc into the ADC, said the new coalition was formed to end misrule and restore prosperity in Nigeria. He emphasised that the calibre of members in the party showed that Nigerians were ready for credible leadership.
In a dramatic twist that could reshape Ekiti’s political terrain, former aides and loyalists of ex-governors Ayodele Fayose, Kayode Fayemi, and Segun Oni have dumped their parties and joined the ADC, signalling serious trouble for Oyebanji’s re-election bid.
Some of the notable defectors include Prof. Kolapo Eleka, former deputy to Fayose; Dipo Anisulowo, Fayose’s former Chief of Staff; Modupe Alade, who served as Secretary to the State Government; and Gbenga Faseluka, former Head of Service. All were present at the unveiling of the party’s new state structure.
The defection is especially significant given the former governors’ earlier support for Oyebanji in the 2022 election. While Fayemi, Fayose and Oni were thought to be backing Oyebanji for 2026, their allies appear to have abandoned that alliance.
Observers say this shift may create a major upset in the state’s power dynamics ahead of the 2026 polls, with the ADC now emerging as a serious challenger in what was previously expected to be a smooth ride for the incumbent.
