Dr. Wole Oluyede has won the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship primary election in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The election, which took place in Ado-Ekiti, drew thousands of party supporters and 535 delegates from across the state’s 177 wards. The voting process, which commenced at 10:30pm on Saturday and concluded at 1:49am on Sunday, was heavily guarded by security personnel to maintain law and order.

According to the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, Oluyede emerged victorious with 279 votes, defeating Funso Ayeni who polled 239 votes and Funmilayo Ogun who scored 17 votes. Another aspirant, Peter Obafemi, had stepped down for Oluyede, citing the need for party unity and describing Oluyede as a man of integrity with the ability to lead the party to victory.

In his acceptance speech, Oluyede described the outcome as a collective triumph for all PDP members and commended the party’s national leadership for ensuring a credible primary. He expressed gratitude to the National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, and the PDP Southwest leader, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for their commitment to a level playing field. Oluyede vowed to restore hope, rebuild trust, and reclaim Ekiti from the All Progressive Congress (APC), urging citizens to unite in the mission to move the state forward.

However, another aspirant, Funsho Ayeni, alleged that the process was marred with manipulation and promised to use the party’s internal mechanism to address his concerns. The PDP Chairman in Ekiti State, Tunji Odeyemi, expressed satisfaction with the successful conduct of the primary, describing it as a major step toward the party’s goal of reclaiming the state from the APC. Odeyemi appealed to all aspirants to remain united, stating that the party has the capacity to take over the governance of Ekiti State.

The primary election is a significant step in the lead-up to the governorship election in Ekiti State. With Oluyede’s emergence as the PDP candidate, the party is poised to challenge the APC’s grip on the state. The outcome of the election will be closely watched, as it may have implications for the balance of power in the region. As the PDP and other parties prepare for the governorship election, the unity and cohesion of the party will be crucial in determining its success.