ADC Ekiti Poll campaign gathers momentum as David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola back Dare Bejide and criticise APC ahead of Saturday’s election

African Democratic Congress National Chairman David Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday intensified the party’s campaign for the Ekiti State governorship election, criticising the ruling All Progressives Congress and urging voters to support ADC candidate Ambassador Dare Bejide.

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The ADC leaders spoke at a mega rally in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, two days before Saturday’s governorship poll, presenting their party as the credible alternative to the APC-led administration.

Addressing party supporters, former Senate President David Mark appealed to residents to vote for Bejide, saying the candidate offered a pathway to a better future for the state.

“Vote for our candidate, Bejide, so that the Ekiti of your dream can be built. Give your votes to ADC,” Mark told the gathering.

The ADC national chairman said the party remained committed to improving living conditions in the state and described Bejide as capable of delivering meaningful development.

“This party with its candidate, Ambassador Dare Bejide, remains the only group capable of salvaging Ekiti from the claws of poverty,” he added.

The rally also featured a strong intervention from former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who accused the APC administration in Ekiti of poor performance over the past three and a half years.

Aregbesola dismissed suggestions that the ADC lacked the political strength to challenge Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the ruling party, insisting that the election outcome would reflect the true mood of voters.

“We will meet at the poll. The APC has failed at the three tiers of government. APC may want to underestimate the opposition because of appearances, but such assumptions will prove costly,” Aregbesola said.

The former minister maintained that the ADC stood a strong chance of victory if the election was conducted in a free and fair manner.

According to him, the ruling party would struggle to secure re-election without manipulating the process, an allegation the APC has consistently rejected in previous electoral contests.

Aregbesola also used the occasion to commend women for their role in democratic participation, urging them to vote in large numbers and ensure that their ballots counted.

“I’m very happy that you are doing it here. If it’s more than this, it will become a problem. They say a needle is very small, but no hen can try to swallow it,” he said while addressing supporters.

Saturday’s election is expected to be closely watched as one of the most significant governorship contests in the country this year.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC is seeking a second term in office, while opposition parties are hoping to capitalise on voter dissatisfaction over economic and governance concerns.

The ADC Ekiti Poll campaign has gained increased visibility following the party’s recent coalition-building efforts at the national level, with key opposition figures seeking to strengthen the party’s presence ahead of future elections.

Political observers say voter turnout, the credibility of the electoral process and the ability of parties to mobilise supporters across the state’s 16 local government areas could play decisive roles in determining the outcome.

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As campaigning draws to a close, both the APC and ADC continue to court undecided voters, setting the stage for a keenly contested governorship election.