A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Mrs Funmilayo Theresa Ogun, has raised alarm over what she termed a blatant manipulation of the delegates’ list ahead of the party’s primary election.
Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, Ogun expressed disappointment, alleging that genuine delegates who emerged from the ad-hoc congresses conducted on October 20, 2025, had been substituted with individuals who neither obtained nomination forms nor participated in the process.
Ogun, from Orin-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, described the alleged action as a deliberate plot by certain individuals within the party to frustrate her ambition and subvert the will of the people.
“We were all present at the party secretariat when the delegate congress was conducted. INEC officials monitored the exercise, and all proceedings were properly documented. But to my dismay, when the list was published this morning, my name and those of many legitimate delegates had been completely removed, even in my own ward where I am supposed to be a delegate,” she lamented.
She accused the party hierarchy of replacing names of lawfully elected delegates with those who were not part of the process, describing the move as undemocratic and shameful.
“Before participating in a congress, one must obtain a nomination form. For people who never bought forms to appear as winners on the official list is the height of impunity,” Ogun said.
The governorship hopeful further alleged that some party leaders deliberately tampered with the list due to fears over her growing popularity, particularly as a woman contesting in a largely male-dominated political field.
“They are threatened by my rising support across the 16 local government areas. I have no godfather and no foreign currency to bribe anyone, but I have the genuine backing of the people. That’s why they are resorting to manipulation. Let them release the authentic list and meet me on the field — I will defeat them all,” she vowed.
The former Commissioner for Works appealed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Ojo Amupitan, to reject any attempt to legitimise the alleged doctored list, urging the commission to remain neutral and refuse to monitor any primary election based on falsified names.
While acknowledging INEC’s limited involvement in internal party matters, Ogun emphasised that the electoral body has a moral responsibility to protect democratic integrity.
She revealed that petitions had already been sent to both INEC and the PDP National Secretariat, accompanied by certified true copies of the genuine congress results observed by INEC representatives.
Ogun said her legal team had been briefed and was prepared to take all necessary lawful actions if the party fails to correct the situation before the primary election.
“I have followed every due process, obtained my forms, and mobilised supporters across the state. If the party refuses to address this illegality, we will not hesitate to approach the court,” she declared.
The Chairman of the Forum of PDP Local Government Chairmen in Ekiti, Oluyemi Ajanaku, supported Ogun’s allegations, describing the situation as “disgraceful, dangerous, and worrisome” to the unity of the party.
Ajanaku warned that such manipulation, if not addressed, could deepen the existing crisis within the PDP and jeopardise its chances in the forthcoming governorship election.
“Ekiti is winnable for PDP if we remain united. But how can we convince loyal members to stay committed when their names are arbitrarily removed from the delegates’ list?” he questioned.
