Politics
NDC Elects Kennedy Peretei as Pioneer Chairman in Ondo State
The Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has elected Kennedy Peretei as its pioneer state chairman following the party’s inaugural congress held in Akure.
Peretei, a former publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, emerged through a consensus arrangement ratified by about 150 delegates drawn from the 18 local government areas of Ondo State.
The congress, described by party officials as peaceful and well-coordinated, also produced other members of the state executive council.
Oluwole Akinmuyisan was elected deputy chairman, Babatunde Daudu as secretary, Ayodeji Joy as woman leader, Samuel Olutosin as organising secretary, and Owolola Adebola as publicity secretary. Others include Asiwaju Bernard as vice chairman (South) and Olutubosun Isijola as vice chairman (North).
Chairman of the congress committee, Emmanuel Alli, said the exercise was conducted in line with the directives of the party’s national leadership, noting that it reflected the collective will of members across the state.
In his acceptance speech, Peretei described his emergence as a call to build a strong and credible opposition platform in the state and beyond. He said the NDC was already gaining momentum nationwide, driven by what he called growing public demand for political alternatives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The newly elected chairman claimed that millions of Nigerians had shown interest in the party within a short period, insisting that the figures were verifiable and reflective of widespread dissatisfaction with existing political structures.
Peretei, however, raised concerns over what he described as attempts to suppress opposition voices, warning that Nigeria’s democratic space must remain open, competitive, and inclusive.
“There is a deliberate attempt to suppress opposition, but this country belongs to all Nigerians. The political space must be enlarged to allow people to freely express themselves,” he said.
He added that the Ondo State chapter of the party would position itself as a formidable opposition force, committed to holding those in power accountable while offering credible alternatives to governance.
The NDC’s emergence and growing activities in Ondo State come amid shifting political alignments and heightened preparations by parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
