The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, has vowed to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2026 governorship election in the state, saying its party is not scared about the wanton of endorsement given to the incumbent governor.
The party disclosed this while inaugurating Team Wole Oluyede Governorship Campaign Committee in Ikere-Ekiti, Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The event had in attendance prominent PDP bigwigs from south West and from the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State. The party bigwigs said all hands are on deck to rescue the state from APC maladministration . .
Speaking at the event, a former lawmaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly and member, Team Wole Oluyede Ekiti 2026 Governorship Campaign Committee, Hon.Wale Ayeni, announced that PDP will pitch its tent with Dr Wole Oluyede
He said the occasion at the same time is important to salute the PDP leaders for saving the party from the clutches of bad leaders who deliberately sold out the party to opponent in the past.
Ayeni posited that PDP has never lost any election to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, except when some party leaders collected money to cause division and crisis in the party.. According to him, anytime the party is united it becomes difficult for APC to defeat them.
He stated further that the election they lost was because some leaders that time cashed out on the party by picking unacceptable candidates for elections which eventually led to crisis in the party.
The former lawmaker said if the party had given one of the governorship aspirants in the 2022 election, Chief Segun Oni, the party’s ticket, the PDP wouldn’t have been confronted with those problems it was made to go through. He, however, said now that they have overcome all the problems, it is now time for them to move the party forward and work together to achieve victory in the 2026 election and in other elections.
Ayeni noted that they are starting the campaign for Dr Wole Oluyede for him to emerge as the party’s flag bearer in the primaries and his victory in governorship election in the state.
He expressed optimism that Oluyede will defeat the incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji, together with all the former governors on his side, in a resounding victory. “Dr Wole Oluyede will be the first in the history of Ekiti to defeat the incumbent with his arrays of former governors in a poll.”
He pointed out that in the history of elections in South West Nigeria, it is only Ekiti South senatorial district that has never produced a governor despite having the highest number of Local Governments.
“Ekiti South has always been deprived. This is because of the power that be, but this time around we have found a capable hand, we have found a competent hand. And that is Dr Wole Oluyede.”
In his speech, the former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kolawole Oluwawole, expressed gratitude to all PDP leaders in the state and across the SouthWest, for reviving the party. According to him, the party was almost dead if not for the special grace of God and the leaders who helped in resuscitating it.
He said though, some of the leaders in the party who used the platform to attain greater heights have failed their followers woefully but, again, light has come to Ekiti and PDP, and the PDP is the light. He reminded party members that work has just started in their struggle to dislodge the APC from the government house.
Oluwawole noted that Oluyede is God sent as a leader with vast experience both nationally and internationally to be the flag bearer of the party. He said that since Oluyede came into PDP, he has single handedly rebuilt and restored the party’s structure right from the wards to state level, adding that, Oluyede’s candidacy will enhance and improve the socio economic and well-being of the people of the state.
Hon. Clement Faboyede, Ondo State PDP Chieftain and Chairman, Forum of National Ex Officio, in his address, said that the end has come for those who have been deceiving the electorate in Ekiti.
He said he has made a detailed investigation about Oluyede before coming to support his gubernatorial ambition. He criticised the Oyebanji-led government in Ekiti State over their negligence in taking governance to the grassroots.
Faboyede said as a Commissioner for Community Development under former governor Mimiko in Ondo State, he worked in all the wards in the state and ensured that governance was brought to the grassroots.
According to him, he awarded over 160 basic health centres in the rural communities therefore, he believes that it is not flyover that Ekiti people need but basic infrastructures that will enhance and improve the lives of the people
He said electing Oluyede as the next governor of Ekiti State will bring tremendous development to the state, noting that by virtue of their position as party leaders, they will sit him down and advise him to bring governance down to the grassroots.
While appreciating Governor Makinde of Oyo State for his numerous achievements in Oyo, Faboyede, urged party members in Ekiti to remain united and avoid fighting, noting that the party members are now wise and because of this, he said PDP will adopt a consensus candidate.
The peak of the event was the inauguration of the committee members of Wole Oluyede campaign team by a PDP Stalwart from Ondo State and Southwest Zonal Organising Secretary Barr. Benson Amuwa.
Amuwa reminded the committee members of the enormity of the job ahead of them if they want to actualise the ambition of Oluyede of becoming the next governor of Ekiti State. He therefore enjoined them to be steadfast, committed and dedicated to the task ahead of them.
In his remarks, the SouthWest PDP Publicity Secretary, who is also in charge of Media and Publicity of Team Oluyede Governorship Campaign Committee, Chief Sanya Atofarati, enjoined people of Ikere-Ekiti and Ekiti South senatorial district not to settle for deputy governorship ticket if offered to them but they should insist that it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state.
The party’s Southwest Spokesman called on the APC-led government in the state to start preparing to vacate the government house because their divide and rule tactics which they have been using to destabilise the PDP in the past is no longer workable and cannot get them victory come 2026.
Atofarati further said that despite the huge allocation that is coming to the state, there is no commensurable development to justify the allocation in the State.
Other party stalwarts in the state, Chief Ojo Adewale and Mrs Adesoro enjoined party members to be consistent and bold in the pursuit of their goal in the forthcoming election, noting that it is only Ekiti South senatorial district that has not produced a governor and for this reason, they should work with other senatorial districts in the state to realise their goal. “All we want is Governor, so, all we need do is to work hard for this to be attained,” they affirmed.
Alhaji Rasaq Babatunde Adewoyin, the Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters to Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Mrs Lanre Fajuyi, Hon. Bade Adara, Hon. Mosu Aguda, Hon. Taye Otitoju and a host of others were among party leaders from Osun, Ondo,Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti States present at the inauguration.