Ekiti 2026: PDP candidate Oluyede insists gov poll not free, fair

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, Wole Oluyede, has insisted that the poll fell short of the people’s expectations of a free, fair, credible and acceptable election.

Oluyede said he was still consulting widely on the next line of action regarding the election, based on reports received from across the 16 local government areas of the state and his assessment of the conduct of the poll.

In a personally signed statement titled, “A Message of Gratitude, Hope and Commitment to the People of Ekiti State,” made available in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, the PDP candidate appreciated party members and supporters for standing firm in their convictions and voting according to their conscience.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had, in the early hours of Sunday, June 21, declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress the winner of the election after polling 319,224 votes, while Oluyede of the PDP secured 40,543 votes to place second.

Oluyede said, “The official results declared by INEC credited our great party with 40,543 votes. To every one of you who stood firmly with us and refused to exchange your conscience for personal gain, I owe you a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot repay.”

He, however, maintained that the election failed to meet acceptable democratic standards.

“My position regarding the conduct of the election remains clear. Based on reports received from our polling agents across the 16 local government areas, information available to our campaign and my own assessment of events, I firmly believe that the election fell short of the standard of a free, fair and credible election that the good people of Ekiti deserved.

“The numerous reports of voter inducement, intimidation, operational challenges involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, delayed accreditation and other alleged irregularities have raised serious questions that deserve transparent and impartial examination.

“As someone who has great respect for the Office of the President and for His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, I believe every step we take after this election must be guided by wisdom, responsibility and respect for our democratic institutions.

“For that reason, I am currently consulting extensively with the leadership of our great party, my lawyers and members of my legal team. Those consultations are ongoing. At the appropriate time, I shall brief the good people of Ekiti State on the outcome of those consultations and the next steps regarding all matters arising from this election.

“Whatever decision is eventually taken will always be guided by the rule of law, the interest of our supporters and my unwavering commitment to justice, democracy and the future of Ekiti State.”

Oluyede assured his supporters that their sacrifices would not be in vain. “You have strengthened my faith. You have renewed my hope. You have inspired my determination. I will never abandon you. I will continue to stand with you. I will continue to speak for you. I will continue to defend the interests of Ekiti State.

“Our past is only a story already told. Our future can still be written in gold. Together, we shall continue this journey with faith, courage, unity and hope until Ekiti State attains the greatness our people deserve,” he said.

Oluyede also took a swipe at unnamed individuals whom he said had benefited politically from the PDP but were now declaring the party politically irrelevant in the state.

He said, “It was both painful and disappointing to watch some individuals who had benefited immensely from the PDP—individuals whose political relevance, public recognition and leadership opportunities were built on the platform of our great party—devote their time and energy to declaring that the PDP was dead in Ekiti State.

“Instead of working to rebuild and strengthen the very platform that gave them purpose and prominence, they became its loudest undertakers, moving from one platform to another proclaiming that there was no meaningful opposition left in our state and that the PDP had no future in Ekiti.

“I chose not to respond to those declarations with bitterness or propaganda. I chose to place my faith in God and in the good people of Ekiti State. Together, we embarked on a journey that many considered impossible. Without the support of any serving governor, former governor or influential national political leader, we built a movement driven solely by the courage, resilience and determination of ordinary Ekiti men and women who refused to surrender hope.

“Today, I can proudly say that the people of Ekiti have answered those voices more eloquently than I ever could. They have proved that the PDP remains alive and deeply rooted in the hearts of our people,” he stated.

Oluyede said his participation in the governorship race was about more than seeking political office, adding that his mission was to restore hope, defend democratic choice and demonstrate that the future of Ekiti belonged to its people.

He recalled that he fought legal battles before the election to ensure that the PDP remained on the ballot, saying the struggle was necessary to preserve democratic choice.