By Samuel Sunday
The gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, Ambassador Dare Bejide, has reaffirmed his commitment to leading the state with the fear of God, prioritizing the needs of the people, and confronting long decades of infrastructural decay.
The party flag bearer stated this while interacting with newsmen in his office in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
Bejide said if elected as Ekiti Governor come 2026, that his administration would focus on transforming Ekiti from a “mere civil-service state” into an economically vibrant and investment-ready destination.
He emphasized that years of infrastructural neglect, unemployment, weak institutions, and absence of a clear economic direction had kept Ekiti stagnant, promising that the ADC under his leadership would “reset the system” and drive aggressive development.
While addressing the current economic hardship affecting residents, the candidate urged the people of Ekiti to endure and not lose hope. He criticized the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for failing to reflect the huge allocations received by the state in visible development.
According to him, “Ekiti deserves better. With the level of resources coming into the state, our people should not be suffering this much. Governance should reflect transparency and accountability. “The ADC government will restore dignity and put smiles on the faces of our people just like in the developed countries where citizens enjoy basic necessities of life.”
Ambassador Bejide also promised to overhaul the state’s security architecture beyond supporting security agencies with logistics and equipment. He stressed on the importance of intelligence gathering, community vigilance, and early-warning systems.
“We will ensure that every corner of Ekiti is safe. Our people must be able to sleep with their two eyes closed, walk freely, run their businesses peacefully, and live without fear,” he said.
He assured the people that his experience as a diplomat, administrator, and development advocate places him in a unique position to give Ekiti a new direction.
He therefore urged ADC members across the state to remain calm and focused despite provocations from political rivals, alleging that violence was the “stock in trade” of certain actors. He reminded supporters that the party’s eyes must remain on the ultimate goal of winning the 2026 governorship election.
“With God, with our vision, and with the people on our side, Ekiti will rise again,” Bejide declared.
