African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Ayodele David-Adesua, has appealed to residents not to allow themselves to be swayed by food items or money from politicians as the 2026 governorship election approaches.
Speaking in his hometown, Ijesa Isu Ekiti, on Saturday, October 11, during his formal declaration for the ADC governorship ticket, David-Adesua cautioned against the practice of trading votes for temporary gains.
He said, “Do not be deceived with bags of rice and little cash during electioneering, which may make people change their minds from voting for the right leader. Shun these enticements and vote right for development in the forthcoming election.”
According to him, such voter manipulation has contributed to Ekiti’s slow development.
“The result of being swayed by rice and other material gifts and cash tokens during election has always been incompetent leadership, poor governance and lack of development as is the case in Ekiti now,” he added.
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David-Adesua promised to prioritise inclusive governance, women and youth empowerment, and economic growth if elected.
“My people and growth-centred administration will implement open-door policies, empower youth and women, and foster development across the state,” he said.
The declaration event was attended by several party stalwarts, including former Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka; former Speaker, Gboyega Aribisogan; and fellow aspirants, Prof. Muyiwa Babalola and Chief Kayode Eegunjobi.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the Ekiti governorship election for June 20, 2026, with party primaries scheduled between October 20 and November 10, 2025.
Within the ADC, at least six aspirants, including David-Adesua, Adeyinka Alli, Dare Bejide, Kayode Eegunjobi, Prof. Muyiwa Babalola, and Emmanuel Fayose, have indicated interest in contesting for the party’s ticket.