Oluyede Clinches PDP Gubernatorial Nomination in Ekiti

Table of Content

• Dr. Wole Oluyede Wins PDP Governorship Primary Election
• Election Overview
• Security Measures
• Election Results
• Withdrawal of Aspirant
• Dr. Oluyede's Acceptance Speech
• Reactions from Other Aspirants
• Comments from PDP Chairman

A distinguished medical professional, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has emerged victorious in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Ekiti State.

The PDP primary election attracted thousands of party supporters to the venue in Ado-Ekiti, including 535 delegates from across the 177 wards in the State who cast their votes for their preferred candidates.

The election venue was heavily secured by personnel from the army, police, civil defense, and mobile police, among others, to ensure law and order.

The voting commenced at approximately 10:30 PM on Saturday night and concluded at exactly 1:49 AM on Sunday.

The Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, who also serves as the Lawmaker representing Gombe North Senatorial District, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, announced Oluyede as the winner with 279 votes, defeating Funso Ayeni, who received 239 votes, and Funmilayo Ogun, who garnered 17 votes.

A candidate, Peter Obafemi, withdrew from the race in support of Oluyede, stating that his decision was made not for personal gain but for the peace of the party.

He characterized Oluyede as a man of integrity, asserting that he possesses the capability and energy to lead the party to victory if he becomes the party’s candidate.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Oluyede referred to the outcome as a collective victory for all PDP members, praising the fairness and transparency that marked the process.

The candidate expressed appreciation to the party’s national leadership for their efforts in ensuring a credible primary, specifically acknowledging the National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, and the PDP Southwest leader, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for their dedication to a level playing field.

He pledged to restore hope, rebuild trust, and reclaim Ekiti from what he described as misrule under the All Progressive Congress (APC), urging citizens to unite in the mission to advance Ekiti and bring good governance back to the state.

“Today signifies a victory not just for me, but for every member of our esteemed party in Ekiti State. In this election, there are no losers, only partners in progress and champions of democracy. The spirit of maturity, sincerity, and fairness demonstrated in this primary indicates that genuine change is on the horizon for Ekiti.

“Your leadership has reinforced our belief in democracy. To my fellow aspirants, I commend your courage and sportsmanship. This victory belongs to all of us. Now, we must come together as one family to achieve the ultimate victory, the PDP victory in the governorship election,” he added.

Aspirant Funsho Ayeni acknowledged the party's efforts but remarked that the process was tainted by manipulation, vowing to utilize internal mechanisms to address the issues.

The PDP Chairman in Ekiti State, Tunji Odeyemi, expressed satisfaction with the successful execution of the primary, describing it as a significant step toward the party's goal of reclaiming the state from the APC.

Odeyemi commended party members for their resilience throughout the extended voting period, which lasted from morning until the early hours of the following day, and urged all aspirants to remain united.

He stated, “To God be the glory, a winner has emerged, which has been our objective since I assumed the role of chairman. Many believed this primary would lead to a crisis, but we have proven otherwise. With God and our collective vision, we will take over the governance of Ekiti State.

“Only one individual can occupy the seat. Now that a candidate has been selected, we must reconcile and move forward together to win the election. We possess all the necessary resources to reclaim governance in Ekiti State.”