Ahead of the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Abdul Ningi, has revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is being repositioned to achieve success in the election.
Ningi, who is the Chairman of the PDP Congress Committee, spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during the inauguration of the ad hoc committee delegates ahead of the party’s governorship primaries scheduled for November 8, 2025.
The ad hoc delegates were drawn from the 177 wards across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state, with each ward having three members comprising two males and one female.
Addressing governorship aspirants, party leaders, and stakeholders at the PDP Secretariat, the PDP chieftain explained that the duties of the ad hoc delegates include overseeing and supervising the primary election process, ensuring proper documentation, and promoting transparency during the exercise.
The federal lawmaker also appealed to party members to remain steadfast and urged the four aspirants to embrace love and unity, ‘for Ekiti PDP to be able to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2026 election.’
He expressed optimism that despite the challenges, the PDP would bounce back to offer credible alternatives to the ruling APC.
According to him, ‘We want to reposition the Peoples Democratic Party, and that means we have to follow the laid-down rules and regulations so we don’t run foul of the law in any sphere.
‘Our mindset is what is good for this state. Our mindset is how do we resuscitate this very powerful party, particularly in Ekiti.
‘You are all living witnesses to what is happening to our party, but beyond what is happening, we know as a matter of fact that, whatever happens, there must be a reason behind it. The party has made mistakes in the past. We have realised our mistakes and we are coming together once more.
‘This is a Nigerian party and it is not a personalised party, and I want to say clearly that this party is beyond personalities.
‘And that is why some of us, from day one when we joined in 1998, have refused to look back because we believe this party can provide everything for everyone in Nigeria. You will recall this party provided for a minority to be the president of this country, that is, in the name of Goodluck Jonathan.
‘We are not in a position to have infighting in Nigeria, not to talk of Ekiti State. We know that with the few governors we have, we can drive this party to success. With the faces and personalities I am seeing here, I know it is something that is doable. It is something that is possible. It is your state.
‘The party has ruled the state before and you know why we missed it. You know the situation we are all in, whether you are happy or not. This is an opportunity for all of us to galvanise ourselves as a family. You should trust yourselves that you can deliver democratic dividends to your people. That is why we are here.’
The State Chairman of the party, Tunji Odeyemi, said the nomination exercise is crucial to the success of the party’s governorship primaries scheduled for November 8.
The former acting governor appealed to party members and leaders to shun acts capable of causing disunity within the PDP.
‘Like I have said before, this is a new chapter and we will reposition this party, that is our first mission and vision. The PDP in Ekiti will lay a very solid foundation that will stand the test of time. The structure will, no doubt, be strong enough and, with all things being equal, with the cooperation of all our members and the support of our national leaders, we will occupy the Government House come 2026,’ he said.