Leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have reaffirmed their support for Dr. Wole Oluyede as the party’s candidate for the June 20, 2026 governorship election, insisting that the November 8, 2025 primary that produced him must stand.
At a stakeholders’ meeting held at the PDP Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, party executives, leaders, local government and ward chairmen from all 16 local government areas and 177 wards endorsed Oluyede’s candidacy, describing it as the collective will of the party.
Oluyede, an Australia-based medical doctor, emerged winner of the primary after polling the highest votes to defeat other aspirants.
State Chairman, Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyemi, said the meeting was convened to make a public declaration of the party’s “unshakable support” for Oluyede. He urged members to unite and work towards unseating the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji of the APC, through democratic means.
Odeyemi called on aspirants who lost the primary—including Hon. Funso Ayeni, Hon. Funmi Ogun, and Dr. Peter Obafemi—to join hands with Oluyede, stressing that unity was crucial for victory in 2026.
A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Hon. Michael Oke, urged members to return to their wards and mobilise for the party, saying PDP had the numerical strength to win the election. “By the grace of God, Dr. Wole Oluyede will become our governor come June 20, 2026,” he said.
Former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kola Oluwawole, described Oluyede’s emergence as “God’s project,” appealing to national and South-West leaders of the party not to entertain calls seeking to overturn the primary results.
Also speaking, former Ado Local Government Chairman, Hon. Deji Ogunsakin, maintained that the November 8 primary was peaceful and credible, insisting that anyone challenging the outcome was working against the PDP. He stated that the party would resist any attempt to tamper with Oluyede’s mandate.
In his remarks, Oluyede thanked party members for their conduct during the primary, declaring that “all contestants are winners.” He extended an olive branch to aggrieved aspirants and announced plans to set up a reconciliation committee to foster unity ahead of the election.
“With God on our side, PDP will win in 2026, and Ekiti people will not regret electing me,” he said.
The meeting also featured the inauguration of the new state executives and local government chairmen by the State Chairman, Odeyemi, who urged them to work diligently at the grassroots to ensure the party’s victory.
Prominent leaders at the event included NEC member Hon. Adeola Ogunrinde, Deputy State Chairman Hon. Ebenezer Oladapo, Chairman of Local Government Chairmen Hon. Oluyemi Ajanaku, party Legal Adviser Barr. Ola Alonge, and women leaders, among others