Politics
Ekiti 2026: Zoning, rivalries, battle for power reignite old political fires
As activities gear up ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, old questions have resurfaced about zoning, trust, party supremacy and the state’s complex political history that continues to shape its democratic future.
Although parties are yet to conduct primary elections to select their flag bearers, electioneering has begun with actors declaring their interests to run for the most coveted office in the state.
Ekiti’s return to civil rule in 1999 under the Fourth Republic began with Otunba Niyi Adebayo of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the son of Nigeria’s former military governor, General Adeyinka Adebayo.
His one-term stint gave way to the political juggernaut that would define the early 2000s in Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, elected in 2003.
Fayose’s first tenure was cut short by impeachment in 2006 amid allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
Though controversial, the impeachment set off a wave of instability, a succession of acting governors, including the then Speaker of the House and eventually General Tunji Olurin as administrator, before the emergence of Engineer Segun Oni, also of the PDP.
Oni’s time in office was itself contested. Kayode Fayemi of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) challenged the results of the 2007 election, and after a prolonged legal battle, Oni was sacked in 2010, making way for Fayemi.
Thus began a fierce rivalry between the PDP and the ACN (later APC), a pattern that still defines Ekiti politics today.
Since 1999, power in Ekiti has rotated largely between Ekiti Central and Ekiti North. The South Senatorial District, which include Ekiti East, Ekiti South West, Emure, Aiyekire (Gbonyin), Ikere, and Ise/Orun, has long complained of marginalization.
Despite producing political heavyweights, such as Adebayo Clement Adeyeye, it remains the only district yet to complete a full term in the governor’s seat.
Segun Oni, who hails from Ekiti North, only got a partial term. Fayemi (Ekiti North) had two terms. Fayose (Ekiti Central) also served two terms. The current governor, Biodun Oyebanji, hails from Ikogosi-Ekiti in Ekiti Central.
Ahead of 2026, voices from Ekiti South, including traditional rulers, youth associations, and political leaders, have grown louder, demanding that justice and equity be done through zoning.
The clamour for zoning has again been brought to the front burner despite the incumbent, Oyabenji seeking re-election.
The argument is that every major district should have a fair shot at the governorship to foster inclusivity and a sense of belonging.
Although zoning of political offices has never been an issue in Ekiti politics from time immemorial, the clamour for power shift to Ekiti South ahead of next year’s election is already giving Governor Oyebanji and the leadership of his party and the opposition PDP headache and sleepless nights.
Political pundits opined that next year’s election is widely expected to be a fierce contest among the three districts, but Ekiti South is insisting that it is its turn to occupy the most exalted seat in the state.
Soji Solomon, a former chairman of the APC in Emure, Ekiti South, has strongly criticized the long-standing marginalization of the region in the state’s political leadership.
He expressed that the 2026 governorship election offers the best opportunity for the ruling party to right this historic wrong.
In a conversation with our report in Ado-Ekiti, Solomon stated: “For years, Ekiti South has been sidelined in the power equation. We have capable, qualified leaders, but the political structure has consistently overlooked us.
“The upcoming 2026 election is the perfect moment for the APC to address this imbalance.
“It is time to give the South its rightful chance to lead this state, and I believe the party must rise to this challenge, or risk alienating a significant portion of its base.”
Ahead of the 2026 Governorship election in Ekiti, a group of concerned politicians across the registered political parties has emerged under the umbrella of ‘EKITI NEW DIMENSION’, with the sole aim of rescuing the state from what they describe as the “clueless government” of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group’s spokesperson, Chief Segun Akinwumi, outlined the movement’s conservative vision and its commitment to revitalising governance in Ekiti.
Akinwumi said the new coalition intends to offer an alternative political direction, unite disenchanted leaders across party lines, and “unseat the current government that has failed to meet the aspirations of the people.”
The ruling APC retains a strong hold on Ekiti, especially with Oyebanji’s relatively calm administration and continuity from the Fayemi legacy. However, internal party tensions remain, particularly around succession planning and zoning within the party.
The PDP, tagged the main opposition but now weakened nationally and within Ekiti, is searching for a revival.
Adding further intrigue to the developing political scene, a chieftain of the PDP, Emmanuel Fayose, has declared his intention to join the 2026 Ekiti gubernatorial race.
Fayose, the immediate younger brother of former Governor Ayodele Fayose, made his declaration in Ado-Ekiti while addressing reporters.
He expressed confidence in securing the PDP ticket and ultimately unseating incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC.
According to him, his decision is driven by a burning desire to reposition the state and restore people’s trust in governance.
“I am not just riding on my name. I have a vision and capacity to deliver transformative governance in Ekiti. The state deserves more, and I believe I represent the generational shift and seriousness our people need,” he said.
Analysts believe that his brother and former governor, Ayodele Fayose may still influence the race, directly or indirectly.
The belief in some quarters is that Ayo Fayose would be running his brother’s third term agenda despite him giving his nod to the incumbent Oyebanji recently at an event at Ado Ekiti.
There’s also talk of a “third force,” possibly a Labour Party or Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate emerging to disrupt the APC-PDP duopoly, though Ekiti has not historically embraced third-party candidates.
The interplay of zoning demands, old rivalries, emerging political forces, and questions of equity are shaping what could be the most unpredictable gubernatorial election in the state’s history.
The coming months will test the strength of party structures, the sincerity of political actors and the resolve of the electorate.
Politics
PDP to screen Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday as its sole Presidential aspirant For 2027 race
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has scheduled to screen former president Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow, Tuesday, aMay 19, as the lone presidential candidate of party.
According to a statement from the PDP faction backed by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former governor of Plateau State, Jona Jang and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi have been listed among a committee of 14 members to screen Jonathan described as a lone candidate by the party.
Other members of the committee were Chief Olabode George, Babangida Aliyu, Maryam ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenin, Dr. Abdul Bulama, Dr. Esther Uduehi, Edo State PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, Dr. Sunday Solarium and Chief Anicho Okoro, who would serve as administrative secretary of the committee.
Last week, the national Publicity Secretary of the faction, Ini Ememobong, disclosed that former president Jonathan has successfully registered as a member of the party in the fresh digital registration exercise directed by INEC.
The PDP faction also announced that it was set to screen 748 house of representatives aspirants, 198 senatorial aspirants, and 112 governorship aspirants.
The screening committee would screen 2122 states houses of assembly aspirants. The exercise will commence tomorrow, Tuesday in different states.
According to the statement, the screening exercise would take place nationwide on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
The statement said the Interim National Working Committee (iNWC) has also released the names of members to serve on the Screening Committees and Screening Appeal Panels.
It added that the publication of the screening details “is in accordance with the party’s guidelines and timetable for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.”
Politics
Oshiomhole wins Edo APC senatorial primaries unopposed
A former governor and incumbent Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, along with his counterpart Senator Joe Ikpea, sailed through the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary in Edo unopposed, and securing their tickets without a single vote cast against them.
Also Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama emerged the winner in the APC primary for the Edo South senatorial district.
Ogbeide-Ihama won in the seven local government areas of Edo South in the results announced by the Chairman of APC National Assembly Primary Election, Muhammed Ajana at the Urokpota Hall, Benin.
He polled 27,154 votes while his opponents, Senator Neda Imasuen, got 13,580, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu got 6785.
The elections were hitch-free in Edo North and Edo Central, where there was no contest against the incumbents, Senators Oshiomhole of Edo North and Ikpea of Edo Central, respectively.
Ajana at the Urokpota Hall said the collation arose from votes cast in the seven local government areas made up of 77 wards where elections were conducted by members of the committee.
He said, “There are seven local governments that make up the Edo South Senatorial District. We have heard from the Returning officers from the seven local government areas. From the collation, the cumulative result we have for Edo South Senatorial District is this; Ogbeide-Ihama with 27,154 votes, Imasuen with 13,580 votes and Ize-Iyamu with 6, 785.
“This is the total reflection of what has transpired from the ward level to the local government and the Edo South senatorial district collation centre. With this we await further directives from the National Secretariat, we have done our best by collating the results which is our mandate, to collate the results and send them to the National Secretariat.”
However, it was gathered that Ize-Iyamu emerged as the APC candidate for Edo South Senatorial race. He claimed to have clinched the party’s ticket after defeating Ogbeide-Ihama and Imasuen.
It was claimed that the Chief Returning Officer, Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, officially declared Ize-Iyamu the winner after securing the highest number of votes cast.
On his part, the senator representing the district condemned the exercise describing it as a sham allegedly designed to favour a preferred aspirant.
Imasuen spoke while reacting to events at his polling unit in Umagbae North Ward 5, Urhokuosa where he said he was denied the opportunity to vote following what he described as a chaotic and manipulated process.
The lawmaker accused leaders of the party of openly adopting a preferred candidate ahead of the exercise and intimidating members into supporting that aspirant.
He said, “There is nothing satisfactory about this sham of election they did today and it is very unfortunate because as a loyal party member, I expected something better than this.”
He said the warning signs emerged days before the primary when some ward chairmen allegedly informed him that they had been directed not to receive him during consultations.
Imasuen claimed that some ward leaders openly told him the party had already adopted a preferred aspirant, identified as Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, making further consultations unnecessary.
Politics
Ajuloopin Suffers Setback as Home Ward Rejects Third Term Return Bid in Kwara APC Primary
The re-election bid of the member representing Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, Hon. Raheem Tunji Olawuyi, popularly known as Ajuloopin, suffered a major setback on Friday after party members in his home ward, Omu-Aran Ward 1, boycotted the All Progressives Congress APC House of Representatives primary.
According to party stakeholders and observers present at the exercise, no valid election took place in the ward after members refused to participate in protest against what they described as the lawmaker’s poor performance after three consecutive terms in the House of Representatives.
Sources in the ward said efforts by some political figures and loyalists to persuade members to back Ajuloopin’s ambition failed, with party faithful insisting they would not endorse what they termed an attempt to impose his candidacy again.
The boycott led to a breakdown of the electoral process in Omu-Aran Ward 1, with many members staying away from the polls entirely. Stakeholders have called on the APC Electoral Committee to disregard any result purportedly presented from the ward, arguing that no credible primary was conducted there.
Political observers in the constituency described the development as a significant blow to Ajuloopin, noting that the rejection came from his own ward and among constituents most familiar with his record.
Preliminary reports from other parts of Irepodun, Isin and Oke-Ero local government areas, where voting proceeded, also indicated weak support for the incumbent. Many party members were said to have voted for alternative aspirants.
APC stakeholders have urged the party leadership to review reports from affected wards and accept only authentic and verifiable results to preserve the credibility of the primaries. They stressed that internal democracy was critical to the party’s prospects in the constituency and warned against imposing unpopular candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
With tension rising across the federal constituency, party faithful said the leadership must listen to grassroots members and allow delegates and supporters to determine the outcome of the primaries.
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