A prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mrs Funmi Ogun, has declared that recent progress within the party at the national level will influence a turnaround in the state chapter, expressing confidence that former members who defected to other parties will soon return.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Saturday after a strategic meeting with her supporters from the three senatorial districts, Ogun, a former Commissioner for Works and one-time PDP State Secretary, stated that concerted efforts are ongoing to reposition the party ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
“Our National Working Committee members are united and all working together now,” she said. “So, I think they are channeling the path towards resolving the issues and that will also affect us in Ekiti State because of the lingering problems that affected the conclusion of the congresses and things like that.”
Ogun expressed optimism that the party’s internal crisis, which had delayed state congresses in Ekiti, was being addressed and would soon give way to a more structured and united front.
“But now that the issues have been resolved, they are working towards the national convention,” she added. “So very soon, I believe the congresses in Ekiti State will be concluded and that has nothing to do with the timetable for primaries released by INEC.”
Reaffirming her ambition to fly the PDP flag in 2026, she assured supporters that the party remained strong and viable in the state despite the setbacks it had faced in recent years.
“I want to assure our people that the PDP will soon bounce back in Ekiti. PDP is not dead in Ekiti, the party is alive and I am happy that today, we still have dedicated members,” she said. “These people here are the ones working in their wards, they are the grassroots people.”
Ogun, who has embarked on a two-year mobilisation and consultation tour across the state, was firm in her conviction that the PDP could unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle.
“I am going forward and I’m going to push it to the end. I will win that ticket and I will win the election come 2026,” she declared. “I remain focused that PDP will win Ekiti State. I am hopeful of clinching PDP governorship ticket and by this time in 2026, I will be the governor in the Government House.”
On the recent formation of the African Democratic Coalition and suggestions that the platform poses a threat to PDP’s chances, the governorship hopeful dismissed such views.
“There’s no new party or coalition that can come and make any meaningful move,” she said. “We have just a few months to primaries and we are a few months into the election, then you see people coming with a new party to the state, it won’t work, I’m not really bothered about that.”
