Governorship aspirant under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Otunba Emmanuel Oluwayose (Fayose), on Saturday, recorded the largest political gathering in Ekiti State ahead of the 2026 governorship election, drawing over 2,000 key party leaders and members across all local governments and wards in the state.
The meeting, held at Omoloju Event Centre, Afao Road, Ado-Ekiti, was attended by the full structure of the ADC, including all 16 local government chairpersons, deputy chairpersons, secretaries, youth leaders and the 177 ward chairmen, deputy chairmen, secretaries, women leaders and senatorial officers across the three districts of the state.
Also present were party statesmen, association leaders and grassroots mobilisers, who converged to reaffirm their loyalty to the party and express confidence in Otunba Olueayose’s leadership capacity.
According to Otunba Oluwayose’s Media Director, Wasiu Adejumo, the meeting was convened to strengthen the relationship between the aspirant and the party’s internal structure ahead of the ADC governorship primary election scheduled for November 6. 
“The national leadership of the party has specified that the primaries will exclusively adopt the Option A4 model. This requires aspirants to demonstrate strong grassroots support and mobilization capacity and that is why Otunba Oluwayose further organised this record-breaking political familiarization meeting”, Wasiu Adejumo said.
Speaking after the event, Otunba Oluwayose described the overwhelming turnout as “a defining moment for the ADC and for the future of Ekiti State”, adding that his campaign is anchored on integrity, inclusion and a renewed vision for development.
“This movement is not just about winning a primary; it is about restoring faith in leadership. Ekiti is ready for a new kind of governance built on service, not slogans”, he said.
Leaders of the ADC, including the state deputy chairman and other national and state delegates, commended Fayose’s commitment to engaging directly with party members, describing him as “a courageous and people-focused leader who values the strength of the grassroots”.
They pledged a transparent and credible primary process and vowed to support whoever wins fairly, adding that Oluwayose’s gesture of respect and unity would not be forgotten.
Also, political observer and grassroots ambassador in Ado-Ekiti, Comrade Ajayi Temitope Oluwatobiloba (Obailukan), stated that the event has positioned Otunba Oluwayose as ADC’s leading contender and the most formidable challenger to Governor Biodun Oyebanji (BAO) in the 2026 election.