Ekiti Governorship Race Heats Up: PDP's Oluyede Gains Crucial Endorsements!

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its governorship campaign grand finale in Ado-Ekiti, rallying thousands of supporters, women groups, youths, and members of the Ebira community ahead of the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State. The event saw strong endorsements for the party’s flagbearer, Dr. Oluwole Oluyede, with key party figures expressing confidence in his leadership and vision for the state.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, declared her unwavering support for Dr. Oluyede, urging Ekiti residents to vote massively for him. She lauded Oluyede as a competent and people-oriented leader, fully capable of driving sustainable development across the state. Her endorsement, she explained, stemmed from his strong leadership qualities and profound commitment to good governance. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that she had dedicated several days to grassroots mobilization across various communities in Ekiti, including Ikole-Ekiti, Ilasa, and settlements with significant Ebira populations, to garner support for the PDP candidate. She highlighted Oluyede's deep understanding of the needs of the grassroots, including market women, youths, civil servants, and community leaders, affirming his readiness to deliver inclusive governance. Furthermore, the Senator emphasized Oluyede's experience and integrity as crucial for addressing key challenges in education, youth empowerment, women inclusion, and economic growth. She also described him as a unifying figure who would ensure equal opportunities for all residents, irrespective of their background, and expressed confidence in the political awareness of Ekiti voters to identify credible leaders.

Reinforcing this support, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, through its National Woman Leader, Professor Adenike Ogunse, assured party members of its backing for Dr. Wole Oluyede. Ogunse confirmed that Oluyede had been officially adopted as the party’s governorship candidate and that significant efforts were underway to secure victory at the polls. She also stated that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, though unable to attend the rally due to unforeseen circumstances, was fully committed to supporting Oluyede’s emergence as governor. Professor Ogunse reiterated that Oluyede remains the officially recognized candidate of the party on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal, expressing strong confidence in his electoral prospects.

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Dr. Oluwole Oluyede outlined his comprehensive agenda for Ekiti State. He pledged to prioritize road infrastructure, promising to commence the rehabilitation of township roads within his first 100 days in office if elected. On healthcare, Oluyede acknowledged the state's qualified medical personnel but identified inadequate equipment and poor service coverage as significant hurdles. His administration, he vowed, would invest substantially in the health sector to enhance access and strengthen service delivery. For economic development, the PDP candidate highlighted the state's over-reliance on civil service employment over the past three decades, leading to low wealth creation. To counter this, he committed to promoting entrepreneurship and expanding agricultural investment through mechanized commercial farming, aiming to create jobs and improve livelihoods across the state. Dr. Oluyede concluded by urging residents to participate peacefully in the election and diligently defend their votes.

The campaign also featured calls for a power shift to the Ekiti South Senatorial District. Hon. Deji Ogunsakin, the PDP deputy governorship candidate, and party leader Hon. Lanre Omolase, argued that since the creation of Ekiti State in 1996, no governor had emerged from the South Senatorial District, despite its population. They contended that with the Central and North Senatorial Districts having produced governors previously, it was now appropriate for the South to have its turn. The grand finale was attended by numerous PDP leaders and stakeholders, including Campaign Director-General Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, Senator Duro Fasuyi, Hon. Segun Adekola, Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyemi, Rt. Hon. Kola Oluwawole, and former PDP governorship candidate Hon. Bisi Kolawole, alongside a wide array of women groups, youth organizations, and supporters from all 16 local government areas of the state, all expressing optimism about the party’s chances.