Ekiti PDP Progressives criticize Ayodele Fayose for claiming the PDP is dead, calling his remarks bitter, misleading, and born of political frustration.
The Ekiti PDP Progressives have strongly criticized former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose for declaring that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is “dead” in the state.
The group described Fayose’s comment as reckless, unpatriotic, and a desperate attempt to undermine the renewed strength of the party ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by its chieftain, Gani Salau, the Ekiti PDP Progressives urged residents and supporters to dismiss Fayose’s remarks as a reflection of personal frustration rather than fact.
According to the group, Fayose’s bitterness stems from losing control of the PDP’s political machinery, which he had allegedly manipulated for years to serve his interests.
“Fayose is bitter because the PDP is no longer under his grip. For years, he used the party as a tool for personal gain. Now that the party is free, he is attacking it out of frustration,” Salau stated.
Salau accused the former governor of hypocrisy and political desperation, noting that Fayose’s public endorsement of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) exposed his double standards.
The group claimed Fayose had become “a political wanderer” seeking personal relevance after losing authority within the PDP.
He added that the Ekiti PDP Progressives had rebuilt the party from the ruins left behind by the former governor’s leadership.
“The PDP in Ekiti is not dead; it is rising again. We have reorganized our structures at all levels and are focused on the 2026 governorship election,” Salau emphasized.
Fayose, while addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday, had declared that the PDP no longer existed in the state, insisting that its members were inactive and its aspirants were “fooling themselves.”
“Where is the PDP in Ekiti? Where are the members? Where are PDP meetings being held? The party is totally moribund — it is dead here in Ekiti,” Fayose said.
He further endorsed Governor Oyebanji, describing him as “the people’s choice” and asserting that he should remain in office until 2030.
But the Ekiti PDP Progressives condemned Fayose’s endorsement of the APC government as a betrayal of the PDP that made him governor twice.
The group accused him of biting the hand that once fed him and urged him to apologize to both God and the PDP.
“Fayose must apologize to God and to the PDP that lifted him from obscurity and made him relevant in politics. The same platform he now ridicules gave him everything he once boasted about,” Salau declared.
The group further alleged that Fayose had turned himself into “an executive beggar” in the Oyebanji administration, trading loyalty for financial handouts.
Salau described him as “a political orphan without influence or integrity,” adding that his recent statements were attempts to remain in the news.
“He has lost touch with reality. Without the PDP, Fayose is politically naked. His rantings are those of a man drowning in irrelevance,” Salau said.
The statement reminded Fayose of the words of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, who once referred to him as “ìrú wa, ògìrì wa”—a Yoruba expression for a political all-comer. According to the group, Fayose’s erratic behavior and shifting loyalties have validated that description.
The Ekiti PDP Progressives maintained that the PDP remains active and fully prepared to contest and win the 2026 governorship election.
The party, it said, has been restructured to ensure fairness, internal democracy, and strong grassroots mobilization. Salau revealed that the party’s primary election, slated for Saturday, would demonstrate that the PDP is alive and united.
“Our congresses and meetings are ongoing across local governments. The energy among members is high, and we are determined to reclaim Ekiti from the ruling APC,” Salau affirmed.
He noted that Fayose’s repeated attacks on the PDP were deliberate attempts to destabilize the party before the elections, but insisted that his plans would fail. “Fayose’s time of holding the party hostage is over. The PDP is now guided by integrity, not by self-interest,” Salau added.
Political observers say Fayose’s remarks have deepened existing cracks within the opposition in Ekiti. However, they believe the reforms introduced by the Ekiti PDP Progressives could revive the party’s fortunes if properly sustained.
Many PDP members reportedly share the group’s optimism, pointing to the influx of returning members as a sign of growing confidence in the party’s leadership.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the group’s commitment to unity and electoral victory.
“Our goal is clear — to rescue Ekiti from poor governance and restore people’s confidence in the PDP. Fayose’s era of manipulation is gone for good,” Salau stated.
As political activities gather momentum toward 2026, analysts predict that the clash between Fayose and the Ekiti PDP Progressives will shape Ekiti’s political direction. But for now, the message from the group is clear: the PDP is far from dead — it is being rebuilt, rejuvenated, and ready for the future.
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