Wole Oluyede, a governorship hopeful on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, has reaffirmed that the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) remain the main competitors for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
Speaking in his hometown Ikere Ekiti, Oluyede downplayed the emergence of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition and the defection of some political heavyweights from PDP and APC to ADC. “ADC is a contraption, designed by those opposed to President Bola Tinubu. It has no real place in the Ekiti governorship race,” Oluyede told supporters gathered at Ward 03 (Igele Akosun).
The Australia-based medical doctor dismissed claims that PDP is dead in Ekiti and Nigeria, asserting, “The people who want to win in Ekiti are either in PDP or APC. Only a few have left PDP for ADC, and we can count them on our fingers.”
Oluyede noted that he secured over 5,000 votes from Ikere in the 2022 governorship election and is confident of winning the 2026 contest. “It is our turn to lead, and by God’s grace, we shall win with a landslide. Since Ekiti’s creation in 1996, no governor has emerged from the southern senatorial district — we are claiming our rightful place.”
He emphasised that election outcomes are determined by the people, not former party elites. “The voice of the masses has spoken; endorsements from former privileged few matter less than the people’s mandate.”
On defections, Oluyede said, “Every party has members who leave — that is politics. PDP in Ekiti is strong, and those who have left are few and struggling to find their footing.”
