A former candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2022 governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, has been declared the winner of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) governorship primary election in Ekiti State.
Oluyede from Ikere-Ekiti, in the Southern Senatorial District, defeated two other contestants in the PDP indirect primary concluded at about 4 am on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti.
The exercise was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.
The chairman of the primary election committee and former governor of Gombe State, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who declared the results of the primary election, said Oluyede polled 279 votes, to defeat major challenger, Dr Funsho Ayen,i who scored 239 votes, and Mrs Funmilayo Ogun garnered 17 votes.
The fourth aspirant, Otunba Peter Obafemi, withdrew from the race moments before the voting started.
The Senator representing Gombe North commended delegates from the 16 Local Government Areas, aspirants and party stakeholders in the state for the peaceful and successful conduct of the exercise.
Speaking after his declaration as the PDP candidate, Oluyede commended the party delegates for the confidence reposed in him, promising not to disappoint the party in its quest to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).
He extended the hand of friendship to other aspirants, urging them to join him in the path of ” liberating Ekiti and ensuring the party is victorious in the general elections.”
The PDP candidate said, “I want to call on all our members to remain committed to the task ahead. To our great party today’s election, there are no losers, we are all partners in progress and champions of democracy, and this is proof that internal democracy works in our party.
“To my fellow aspirants, I salute your courage, dedication and sportsmanship, and I say this victory is for all of us.”
But one of the aspirants, Ayeni, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the exercise and said he would take it up with the appropriate quarters in the party.
“It is an internal thing, and it is not perfect, but I will seek redress internally. This is the beginning, and there are steps which I am going to explore those channels to seek redress,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the party, Tunji Odeyem,i commended all the aspirants, delegates and party members for their maturity and sportsmanship in the successful conduct of the election.
The party chairman said, “A winner has emerged, and the process is free and fair. My vision and target is to take over the government of Ekiti, and this is a major step in that direction, and by the grace of God, we will get there.”
When asked about how the party will manage the fallout of the primary, Odeyemi added that, ” the leaders will reach out to disgruntled members and we will work out a peaceful method that will accommodate each and every one of them, so on that we will all work in unity for the victory of the party.”
The PDP candidate is expected to face the incumbent governor and candidate of the APC, Biodun Oyebanji and others in the June 20, 2026, governorship election in the state.