SHAME OF A SERIAL LOSER! HOW AYO ARISE TURNED DEFEAT INTO A CAREER IN EKITI NORTH BY GBENGA AJAYI
BY GBENGA AJAYI
EKITI PEOPLE KNOW THE SCRIPT
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS– “To keen political observers in Ekiti State, this post-election meltdown is neither surprising nor novel.”
“It follows a well-documented, decade-long pattern: contest, lose, vanish from party activities, resurface in the next election cycle, and demand the prize.”
DEFEATED, DISGRACED, DESPERATE: ARISE CRIES FOUL AFTER MAY 18 PRIMARY THRASHING, RUNS FROM TV TO COURT AS USUAL!
By GBENGA AJAYI, LAGOS
ITEMISED KEY ISSUES — WORD-FOR-WORD AS WRITTEN:
1. THE MAN WHO WON’T GO AWAY
“THE PERENNIAL CONTENDER — AYO ARISE AND THE ANATOMY OF POLITICAL DESPERATION IN EKITI NORTH BY GBENGA AJAYI”
2. A DISTRICT OF HEROES, ONE MAN OF DRAMA
“The political history of Ekiti North Senatorial District is replete with stories of resilience, loyalty, and service.”
“However, it is equally marked by the recurring political drama of Senator Ayo Arise.”
3. ANOTHER ELECTION, ANOTHER EXCUSE — MAY 18, 2026*
“Once again, following his decisive defeat in the May 18, 2026 APC Senatorial Primary for Ekiti North, Senator Arise has taken to national television stations and courtrooms, alleging electoral irregularities and claiming he was outsmarted.”
5. THE BRUTAL HISTORY — FAILURE AFTER FAILURE
“A History Written in Opportunism and Defeat”
“Senator Arise’s political journey has long been defined by unconventional maneuvers and chronic electoral missteps.”
THE FULL TEXT BY GBENGA AJAYI.
THE PERENNIAL CONTENDER — AYO ARISE AND THE ANATOMY OF POLITICAL DESPERATION IN EKITI NORTH BY GBENGA AJAYI
By GBENGA AJAYI, LAGOS
The political history of Ekiti North Senatorial District is replete with stories of resilience, loyalty, and service.
However, it is equally marked by the recurring political drama of Senator Ayo Arise.
Once again, following his decisive defeat in the May 18, 2026 APC Senatorial Primary for Ekiti North, Senator Arise has taken to national television stations and courtrooms, alleging electoral irregularities and claiming he was outsmarted.
To keen political observers in Ekiti State, this post-election meltdown is neither surprising nor novel. It follows a well-documented, decade-long pattern: contest, lose, vanish from party activities, resurface in the next election cycle, and demand the prize.
A History Written in Opportunism and Defeat
Senator Arise’s political journey has long been defined by unconventional maneuvers and chronic electoral missteps.
The 2006 PDP Incursion: After failing to secure the governorship ticket under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Arise was curiously invited into the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary without prior membership or purchasing a nomination form. Despite Professor Tunde Adeniran initially emerging victorious in a tight race against the late Chief Tale Oguntoyinbo from Oye Ekiti, political scheming eventually handed the ticket—and subsequently the Senate seat—to Arise. Notably, Prof Adeniran and Chief Oguntoyinbo chose peace over litigation and allowed him serve out his tenure without bringing down the PDP.
The 2011 & 2014 Setbacks: Arise’s re-election bid in 2011 ended in defeat at the hands of Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi in the general election. In 2014, his attempt to secure the PDP ticket was thwarted in the primaries by Senator Duro Faseyi.
The 2018 Defection and 5-Vote Rout: Moving to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2018, Arise again contested the 2018 governorship primary against former Governor Kayode Fayemi, polling an embarrassing 5 votes out of over 3,000 delegates. Merely three months later, he picked up the Senate nomination form and lost once more.
The 2022 Strategic Retreat: In 2022, Arise abandoned his senatorial ambition mid way following an understanding tied to Dr. Fayemi’s presidential bid, hoping for a federal appointment if Fayemi won. That ultimately never materialized.
Through all these electoral cycles, one constant remains: the moment the results are declared against him, Senator Arise completely disengages from party affairs. He offers no support to victorious candidates, contributes nothing to party growth, and hibernates until the whistle blows for the next election. At least that has been his stock in trade in the last 3 elections.
The May 18, 2026 Senatorial Primary for Ekiti North was a clear, democratic declaration of the people’s will. Party members turned out in large numbers to evaluate the candidates based on performance, accessibility, and party loyalty. The outcome was a landslide.
Despite the margin of over 10,000 votes, Senator Arise refused to accept the democratic outcome. Instead, he launched a media campaign falsifying narratives of electoral fraud and dragging the APC—the very party he seeks to represent—to court. “Party members on May 18, 2026 spoke clearly and decisively for Senator Cyril Fasuyi to continue his effective representation at the National Assembly. No amount of TV grandstanding or legal maneuvering can rewrite over 10,000-vote deficit.” Ekiti North Party Stakeholders have spoken.
Desperate Lobbying and Anti-Party Activities:
Unfolding events reveal an increasingly desperate effort by Senator Arise to overturn his political fortunes through backdoor channels:
1. The Failed Presidential Lobby.
Insiders reveal that Arise attempted to secure a personal intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. When direct access stalled, he reportedly lobbied Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, to facilitate an audience with the President to secure a federal position for him as a condition to withdraw his court case against the winner and the APC. Party loyalists in Ekiti North have strongly urged party leaders not to oblige this request, citing his lack of commitment to the collective struggle.
1. Flirting with Opposition Parties.
More damaging are allegations of anti-party conduct during the last gubernatorial election of June 20, 2026. Confirmed reports indicate that Senator Arise traveled to Akure to meet with PDP chieftains, including PDP candidate Oluyede, instructing his supporters to work against the APC.
At the moment, close sources confirm that his key lieutenant, known as ‘COB’ Tunde Ogunmilua has held strategic meetings with Funso Ayeni, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate, attempting to divert support away from the APC in the senatorial election.
Conclusion: The Will of Ekiti North Will Stand
Senator Ayo Arise’s current antics reflect the desperation of an aspirant unwilling to accept that political leadership is earned through continuous engagement, loyalty, and popular support—not periodic appearances and legal threats.
The party structure and electorate in Ekiti North Senatorial District remain resolute. They stand firmly behind the mandate given to Senator Cyril Fasuyi on May 18, 2026 and confident that no court action or political maneuvering can subvert the clear, overwhelming vote of the people.
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