Ekiti 2026: PDP's Oluyede says election was neither free nor fair

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for the June 20 election in Ekiti State, Wole Oluyede, says the poll did not meet the people's hopes for a free, fair, credible, and acceptable election.

Oluyede mentioned that he is still talking to people about his next steps regarding the election. This comes after he gathered reports from all 16 local government areas and reviewed how the election went.

In a statement he signed himself, titled "A Message of Gratitude, Hope and Commitment to the People of Ekiti State," which he shared in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, the PDP candidate thanked party members and supporters for staying true to their beliefs and voting with their conscience.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress the winner of the election early on Sunday, June 21. He received 319,224 votes, while Oluyede got 40,543 votes, finishing in second place.

Oluyede said, "The official results declared by INEC credited our great party with 40,543 votes. To everyone who stood firm with us and refused to exchange your conscience for personal gain, I owe you a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot repay."

Despite this, he believes the election did not meet the standards of democracy. He stated, "My position regarding the conduct of the election remains clear. Based on reports from our polling agents across the 16 local government areas, the information we have and my own assessment of events, I firmly believe that the election fell short of the standard of a free, fair and credible election that the good people of Ekiti deserved."

He mentioned issues like voter bribery, intimidation, problems with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, delays in accreditation, and other irregularities that raised serious concerns needing fair investigation.

Oluyede expressed respect for the Office of the President and President Bola Tinubu. He said every step after the election should be guided by wisdom, responsibility, and respect for democratic institutions.

He is currently consulting with his party leaders, lawyers, and legal team. He said, "Those consultations are ongoing. At the right time, I will inform the good people of Ekiti State about the results of those talks and the next steps regarding all matters arising from this election."

Oluyede promised his supporters that their efforts will not be in vain. He declared, "You have strengthened my faith. You have renewed my hope. You have inspired my determination. I will never abandon you. I will continue to stand with you. I will continue to speak for you. I will continue to defend the interests of Ekiti State."

He added, "Our past is only a story already told. Our future can still be written in gold. Together, we shall continue this journey with faith, courage, unity, and hope until Ekiti State achieves the greatness our people deserve."

Oluyede also criticized unnamed people who he said had benefited from the PDP but were now claiming it was politically irrelevant in the state.

He said, "It was both painful and disappointing to watch some individuals who had benefited immensely from the PDP, individuals whose political relevance, public recognition, and leadership opportunities were built on the platform of our great party, devote their time and energy to declaring that the PDP was dead in Ekiti State."

He continued, "Instead of working to rebuild and strengthen the very platform that gave them purpose and prominence, they became its loudest undertakers, moving from one platform to another proclaiming that there was no meaningful opposition left in our state and that the PDP had no future in Ekiti."

Oluyede chose not to respond to those claims with anger or propaganda. He said, "I chose to place my faith in God and in the good people of Ekiti State. Together, we started a journey that many thought impossible. Without the backing of any serving governor, former governor, or influential national political leader, we built a movement driven solely by the courage, resilience, and determination of ordinary Ekiti men and women who refused to lose hope."

He proudly stated that the people of Ekiti have answered those negative voices. He said, "They have shown that the PDP remains alive and deeply rooted in the hearts of our people."

Oluyede emphasized that his run for governor was about more than just seeking political power. He aimed to restore hope, defend democratic choice, and show that Ekiti's future belongs to its people. He recalled fighting legal battles before the election to keep the PDP on the ballot, saying this struggle was necessary to protect democratic choice.