Emmanuel Fayose, a governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, has harshly criticized his elder brother and former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose, for endorsing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governor, Biodun Oyebanji, ahead of the 2026 elections.
In a strongly worded statement, Emmanuel described his brother’s public support for the APC governor as a “shameful betrayal” of the PDP, a party that had twice given Ayodele the platform to govern the state.
“I urge Ayodele Fayose to respectfully exit the PDP if he no longer has anything meaningful to contribute to its growth and repositioning, rather than bringing ridicule to himself and the party in public,” Emmanuel stated.
He expressed disbelief that a two-term governor under the PDP could so easily support an opposition party, saying, “This endorsement is not only disgraceful but also a complete abandonment of the values that the PDP stands for.”
He further denounced the event where the endorsement took place as a “charade,” claiming it was filled with defectors, political opportunists, and a rented crowd. Emmanuel argued that the turnout—less than 10,000 people in a state of over three million—was proof of the public’s disinterest in the APC’s leadership.
“What my elder brother has done does not reflect the values of the Fayose family, known for its Omoluabi ethos,” he added, suggesting that Ayodele’s actions were politically self-serving and damaging to the PDP’s efforts to reclaim the state.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters earlier reported that Ayodele Fayose not only endorsed Governor Oyebanji for re-election but also publicly declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid. Despite showing loyalty to the APC leaders, Ayodele insisted he remained a PDP member, even wearing a PDP cap during the event.
“I am not a member of APC and I will never be. But I publicly endorse President Tinubu, Governor Oyebanji, and his deputy for second terms,” Ayo Fayose had declared at the rally, which gathered some prominent Ekiti leaders and former governors.
The conflicting political positions between the Fayose brothers have further deepened the internal divisions within the PDP in Ekiti State, especially as the 2026 governorship race intensifies.
