The minister of solid minerals, Dele Alake has disowned campaign posters portraying him to be purportedly vying for the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti state.

The campaign posters bearing the logo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with inscriptions such as “Dele Alake 4 Governor” and “Take it Back” have flooded social media platforms.

But reacting, the minister in a statement made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti by his special assistant on media, Segun Tomori said the posters did not emanate from him.

Alake who described the posters as the handiwork of disgruntled elements said he had no intention of contesting the 2026 governorship poll as he was committed to his current national assignment.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Hon. Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake has been drawn to a poster that is circulating on social media and across WhatsApp groups where he is positioned as a gubernatorial aspirant in Ekiti State with the inscription ‘Take it Back’.

“The general public is hereby informed that Dr Alake has no interest in running for the governorship election in Ekiti either now or in the future. The poster in circulation does not have his approval as he does not know the people behind it. It is fake and should be discarded.

“It is unconscionable that the Honorable Minister who is busy with the onerous task of reforming and revamping the Solid Minerals sector, a responsibility committed to him by President Bola Tinubu will leave that to be plotting for an election in Ekiti State.

“The Honourable Minister is a busy man, working tirelessly on how to make the solid minerals sector a major revenue earner for the country and for the sector to create thousands of high-paying jobs for Nigerians,

“He supports the current administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in Ekiti and as a proud son of the soil, Dr. Alake will continue to contribute to the growth and progress of Ekiti State”, it added.

Meanwhile, a caucus within the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti state under the banner of Okinlua Support Group for BAO has begun aggressive networking for the second term bid of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, describing the ambition as justifiable and non-negotiable.

The political body loyal to the deputy governor, Monisade Afuye, which has begun a house-to-house campaign to sensitize the voters, said Oyebanji and his deputy have justified the continuity agenda of the APC and worth being returned in 2026.The group’s convener, Ade Adetunji, said this in Ado Ekiti, during a get-together organised for members and Award Conferment on eminent Ekiti indigenes across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Addressing the teeming supporters that thronged the venue of the event, Adetunji exuded confidence that Oyebanji would have a smooth sail in his second term bid based on his superlative performance, electrifying popularity and strong connections with the grassroots.

Harping on aggressive networking and mobilisation drives for APC, Adetunji appealed to members to begin to showcase the achievement profile and good works being undertaken by the APC-led government in Ekiti up to the grassroots.

“We have a lot of programmes we have packaged to market Governor Oyebanji/Afuye second term candidacy. We are not doing this for personal aggrandizement, but to show that the current government has worked hard and earned being returned.

“The Oyebanji-led government has impressed the citizens with prompt payment of salary, pension and deduction of workers. Before N100m was being paid monthly to defray gratuity arrears, Governor Oyebanji increased to N500m.

“Ekiti people can’t forget the employment of over 3,000 teachers and civil servants within a year. Now, about 15 road projects are under construction. The proposed flyover and efforts to make our Cargo Airport fully operational are making us proud.”Applauding the group for acting as a great ally to the government, the deputy governor, Mrs Afuye, praised members for acting as disciples of Oyebanji with the way it has been spreading the good agenda of the government in all sectors of the economy.Afuye, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Victor Adeniyi, said the current government is incurably desirous to fast-track development and tackle the endemic poverty level in the state

“Governor Biodun Oyebanji has no other task than bringing development to Ekiti. That was why he has committed himself to the prompt payment of salary, pension, gratuity and provision of infrastructures like ring road, flyover and employment generation to strengthen business activities.

“Very soon, the International Cargo Airport will begin full operation. Another flyover is about to begin in Ado Ekiti. In less than one year, the government had employed over 3,000 in the civil service. Let me assure our citizens that many are still coming.”