An ally of former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, Lanre Omolase, has emerged as the new chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State.
Omolase and other members of the State Working Committee were elected on Saturday during the party’s state congress held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. The exercise was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies.
At the congress, a former commissioner in the state, Tunde Ogunleye, was elected as the party’s secretary.
Other executives elected include Babatunde Akande as Deputy Chairman, Femi Philips as Publicity Secretary, Lawrence Odunayo as Organising Secretary, Olugbenga Agbede as Legal Adviser, Ayodele Bosede as Women Leader, Banji Femi as Youth Leader and Gani Bakare as Financial Secretary.
Also elected were Anike Folasade as Treasurer, Ajayi Joseph as Auditor, while Sunday Olowolafe, Adeniyi Adefemi and Segun Olatunji emerged as senatorial chairmen for Ekiti South, Central and North respectively.
Chairman of the Congress Committee, Philip Adebiyi, described the exercise as peaceful and transparent, noting that it reflected the party’s commitment to internal democracy.
Adebiyi said the successful congress marked an important step toward stabilising the party’s structure in the state and rebuilding confidence among members and supporters.
He also urged the PDP’s governorship candidate in the June 20 election, Wole Oluyede, to reconcile with Fayose and other party leaders to strengthen the party’s chances at the polls.
“The next step is to bring all party members together for reconciliation. After the court ruling, the first thing Oluyede should do is to reach out to the leader of the party in the state, Ayodele Fayose, and unite everyone,” Adebiyi said.
In his acceptance speech, Omolase called for renewed commitment among party members, expressing confidence that the PDP would regain its lost political ground in Ekiti State.
He pledged to lead the party with integrity while working with stakeholders to reposition it for future electoral victories.
A member of the PDP National Caretaker Working Committee, Bisi Kolawole, said efforts were ongoing to rebuild the party’s structure and restore unity following recent internal challenges.
Kolawole urged the newly elected executives to remain loyal to the party, respect its elders and work collectively to reposition the PDP as a formidable political force in the state.