From News Editor
Having declared her intent to contest the 2026 governorship poll in Ekiti State, former Commissioner for Works, Mrs Funmi Ogun, has predicted that the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) will take back power in the next gubernatorial contest in the state.
Ogun, who was the Commissioner for Works under the administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose, boasted that the main opposition party will easily dislodge the ruling APC, banking on the current economic woes, saying efforts are underway to fortify the party.
The former Commissioner, who had declared her ambition for the 2026 governorship poll on the platform of the PDP, spoke in Ado Ekiti yesterday, at an occasion commemorating her 50th Birthday ceremony.
The ceremony, held at the Christ the King Catholic Church, Ajilosun Street, Ado Ekiti and Afe Babalola Hall, Adebayo area of the state capital, was attended by political bigwigs, civil servants, clerics, businessmen and admirers, confirming the bridges she had built with across all the strata of the society.
Ogun, while addressing her admirers and teeming party supporters, said all the internal discordant tunes and barrage of centrifugal forces rippling and destroying the unity of the party will be resolved to make PDP more cohesive and invigorated to return to power.
“We are returning to power in 2026. I can’t say we are not having internal warnglings, but that will be settled soon. PDP is not dead in Ekiti . The party still parades strong political forces that can put all their strengths together to defeat the ruling party easily.
“We are making serious efforts to address those issues. Our leaders both in Ekiti and at the national levels are putting them on the table, so that it can be addressed holistically.
“PDP is in for a serious business in 2026 and we are not going to joke with it. Without being immodest, the PDP reigns in Ekiti had been better than the ruling APC in terms of Infrastructures and closeness to the masses. PDP is more masses-oriented than what we are witnessing today”.
Alleging that the APC has ruined the economy of the country, Ogun said: “under the administration of PDP, the price of fuel was less than N150 per litre. But under APC reign, it moves from N150 to N500 and now N750. Nigerians have never suffered like this under PDP.
“And the suffering was because of the fact that those that are ruling us after the PDP time are not doing well. Nigerians are now under slavery. How much was the price of a bag of rice under PDP and now? The two are different, so we are coming back to make lives easier for Nigerians, especially Ekiti people”.
Speaking further on her governorship ambition, she stated: “Ekiti will make history as the first state to produce the first female governor. I am coming on board and this shall come to fruition in 2026.
“I am declaring my intent to salvage the state government from the bondage of misrule. The masses are in dire need of good governance in the state and that is exactly what I am coming to offer”.
She expressed high level of confidence that she would work hard by rallying the large number of women voters in Ekiti to actualise her aspiration for the PDP.
Speaking about Ogun’s virtues, former Chairman of Ado Local Government and PDP Deputy Governorship candidate in 2019 poll, Hon. Deji Ogunsakin, branded the celebrant as a loyal party woman and someone with competence to achieve greatness in any task she is saddled with.
Ogunsakin, who was the Chairman of the occasion, said: “The future is bright for Funmi Ogun. You have built bridges for yourself in Ekiti and I don’t doubt your competence and capability when saddled with any task.
“We knew what you did in Ekiti State as a commissioner. You supervised the construction of the flyover in Ado Ekiti that remains the epicentre and flagship of infrastructure in Ekiti and you made success of it. In fact, I am proud of you, the PDP is proud of your achievements”.
