The Peoples Democratic Party leaders and stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State have demanded a comprehensive account from the party’s former Deputy Governorship candidate, Deji Ogunsakin, over funds allegedly made available to him by the party’s 2026 governorship candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, for the June 20 governorship election.
The demand was made at a meeting attended by more than 1,000 PDP members and stakeholders drawn from all the 13 wards of Ado-Ekiti Local Government.
The meeting, which reviewed the party’s performance during the June 20 governorship election and the activities of key stakeholders before, during and after the poll, also reaffirmed the loyalty of the members to Oluyede and Hon. Sunshine Anifowose.
The gathering was coordinated and moderated by Anifowose, a former Personal Assistant to former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.
Speaking on the issues discussed at the meeting, Anifowose said members were particularly concerned about accountability surrounding funds allegedly released to Ogunsakin during the governorship campaign.
According to him, Ogunsakin should come forward and explain how much he received from Oluyede, what the money was released for, and how it was spent.
Anifowose alleged that Ogunsakin received funds to cater for party agents across polling units, canvassers, ward-level mobilisation and entertainment, as well as campaign logistics and other operational expenses.
He further alleged that Oluyede also provided substantial resources for fuelling vehicles and other transportation arrangements throughout the campaign period.
Anifowose said the issue was not about witch-hunting anybody, but about accountability and transparency, particularly when public political claims were being made about the performance of individuals during the election.
He challenged Ogunsakin to disclose the total amount he personally contributed to the campaign and distinguish it from funds allegedly provided to him by Oluyede.
The PDP leader said, “If there is any disagreement or misunderstanding among political actors, the best approach is to place the facts on the table. Let him tell the people how much he received, what he received the money for and how the money was spent.
“We also want him to tell the people how much he personally contributed to the campaign. If he claims that he financed any aspect of the campaign from his personal resources, let him state the amount and what it was used for.”
Anifowose also raised questions about alleged donations and financial assistance reportedly solicited from some prominent Ado-Ekiti indigenes during the campaign.
He specifically mentioned Senator Fatima Raji-Rasaki, alleging that Ogunsakin, while serving as the deputy governorship candidate, sought financial support from such individuals.
He questioned whether the funds allegedly obtained from such sources were subsequently disclosed to Oluyede or properly accounted for.
The meeting also questioned Ogunsakin’s performance at his polling unit during the June 20 election, arguing that political responsibility should be measured not only by positions occupied but also by actual contributions to the electoral success of the party and its candidates.
Anifowose said those who occupied sensitive positions in the campaign should be prepared to account for their roles, resources entrusted to them and the results delivered in their respective areas.
The stakeholders also revisited Ogunsakin’s political history, particularly his relationship with former Governor Fayose.
Anifowose recalled that Ogunsakin had publicly regarded Fayose as his political godfather and that Fayose played a significant role in his emergence as Chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government.
He further recalled that Fayose later supported Ogunsakin’s emergence as the Deputy Governorship candidate to Prof. Olusola Eleka during the 2018 governorship election.
However, Anifowose alleged that after the party lost the 2018 election, Ogunsakin subsequently fell out with Fayose and became associated with political moves against the former governor.
He also alleged that Ogunsakin later had disagreements with other PDP leaders, including Prof. Eleka and Hon. Bisi Kolawole.
The development, according to Anifowose, had raised questions among party stakeholders about what he described as a recurring pattern of political relationships turning sour after individuals had benefited from them.
He therefore questioned whether the same pattern could be repeated in his relationship with Oluyede, who selected him as his running mate for the 2026 governorship election.
Anifowose said the PDP needed a new culture of accountability, loyalty and collective responsibility, stressing that political leadership should not be treated as a personal entitlement.
He said the party could not afford to continue with internal divisions, blame games and accusations without demanding explanations from those entrusted with responsibilities.
Beyond the controversy surrounding Ogunsakin, the meeting also reaffirmed the commitment of PDP members across the 13 wards of Ado-Ekiti to Oluyede.
Anifowose said the gathering demonstrated that Oluyede continued to enjoy substantial grassroots support within the local government despite the outcome of the June 20 election.
He said the stakeholders remained committed to strengthening the political structure at the grassroots and ensuring that genuine party members were not discouraged by the outcome of one electoral contest.
The meeting also expressed support for Anifowose, with members describing his efforts at maintaining contact with the grassroots as important to the rebuilding and repositioning of the party.
The stakeholders further declared their readiness to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election, saying their decision was informed by what they described as the need to advance the interests of Ekiti State and ensure that the state remained strategically connected to the Federal Government.
Anifowose explained that supporting Tinubu should not automatically be interpreted as abandoning the PDP, arguing that political engagement could be driven by the interests of the people and the state.
He said, “Our people are looking at the bigger picture. Ekiti must not be isolated politically. We must be able to engage with the Federal Government and ensure that our people benefit from national opportunities.
“Our commitment is to the development of Ekiti and the welfare of our people. That is why our people are prepared to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The meeting, according to Anifowose, was also intended to strengthen unity among PDP members in Ado-Ekiti and create a platform where party stakeholders could freely discuss developments affecting the party and its future.
He said the participation of members from all 13 wards showed that the grassroots remained active and interested in the direction of the party.
Anifowose urged party members to remain calm, united and focused, saying the future of the PDP in Ado-Ekiti would depend largely on the ability of its members to demand accountability while remaining committed to the collective interest.
He said the party would continue to engage stakeholders and work towards rebuilding its grassroots structure ahead of future elections.
The stakeholders consequently reaffirmed their loyalty to Oluyede and Anifowose, while calling for greater transparency and accountability from individuals who handled campaign resources during the 2026 election.
The allegations against Ogunsakin were made at the meeting and could not be independently verified. Ogunsakin’s response to the allegations was not available at the time of filing this report.
