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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
A former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kolawole Oluwawole, has said that the governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2026 election in the state, Dr Wole Oluyede, is the best man for the state’s top seat.
Oluyede, on Friday, obtained his governorship nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the party’s primary election billed to hold in November.
Oluwawole made the remarks at the signing of Oluyede’s nomination form in Ikere-Ekiti, the country home of Oluyede by PDP stakeholders from the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
Party leaders, chairmen, coordinators, women leaders, among other party faithful were present at the gathering.
” Today, is a very important day. It is a day that we have to celebrate. We have to celebrate because the enemies thought they will not be able to get a formidable aspirant that will be able to obtain this form.
” It is not out of place for the national authority of the party to place the nomination form and expression of interest form at that exorbitant price of N40 million and N10 million respectively plus the administrative charges of N1 million, making N51 million in this dry season. It was unimaginable.
” We thank God for giving us a formidable, competent, experienced, Intelligent and vibrant gubernatorial aspirant in person of Dr Wole Oluyede and he is going to win.
” This task we have come to do is a very important one. We are in a very crucial stage now because filling of the nomination form and expression of interest form and submission of same, marks the beginning of the race.
” All our leaders and members in each local government, ward, here present you will go back home and embark on serious mobilisation of party members to ensure that the three delegates that will emerge from across each of the 177 wards of the state are the ones to vote for and elect Dr Oluyede as the candidate of the party.
” And this should be taken as a very serious business and we will ensure that those to be elected as delegates, are people of integrity, trustworthy, who will not betray us on the day of the primary.”
The former Speaker, however, expressed regrets at the N40 million fee for the PDP governorship nomination form, N10 million expression of interest form and the One million administrative charges, noting it is too expensive for a party that is not in power, coupled with the financial situation in the country.
” Sincerely speaking, the price of the nomination and the expression of interest forms is too exorbitant taking into consideration that out party is an opposition party.
” And in order for us to give room for a kind of opportunity for aspirant to emerge as the party’s flagbearer, they would have considered the fact that PDP is not in power at both the state and federal levels, so the price should have been a little bit lower
“This is the concern of members who felt that it is a strategy by some individuals at the high level to frustrate or discourage Ekiti chapter of the PDP the opportunity to actively participate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
“He has obtained the form now, but it is very necessary for us to append our signatures to it, and also do other things needed to be done as party members.”
Oluwawole who expressed optimism that Oluyede will emerge the candidate of the party at the forthcoming primary election, urged the electoral umpire to strictly adhere to the guidelines and ensure a rancour-free process.
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” Dr Wole Oluyede, the gubernatorial aspirant is going to emerge the winner. He is the leading governorship aspirant in PDP as of today in Ekiti State. There is no doubt, he is going to win the primary as long as the guidelines are followed, as long as the rules are followed, as long as there is no hanky panky with the electoral umpire and I am sure that the authority will provide necessary and adequate security so that everything will go smoothly.”
Oluwawole who said that the current administration in the country and Ekiti in particular is characterised by increase in poverty, hunger, joblessness and worsening insecurity among other ills, called on the people of the state to support Oluyede’s bid to change the narrative.
” The precarious economic situation in Nigeria, vis- a- vis what is going on in Ekiti State presupposes that there is a need for a change. We need to create a new paradigm. We need to create a new vision and by the grace of God, Dr Wole Oluyede, has the capacity to carry out this vision. Enough of poverty, enough of starvation, enough of hunger, enough of joblessness and enough of bad governance.”
In his remarks, a chieftain of the PDP, and one of the signees of the nomination form, Mr Martins Ibikunle, from Irepodun/Irepodun Local Government, expressed optimism that Oluyede will come out victorious in both the primary and governorship elections.
” I am here to sign the nomination form of Dr Wole Oluyede. He is a candidate to beat in Ekiti State and that is the truth. We have many aspirants within the rank and file of the PDP, but you can see things for yourself. He is a person to beat.
Ibikunle noted that this year’s primary election will be entirely different from the way it used to be in the past.
” We are going to have a hitch-free primary in Ekiti State as far as PDP is concerned. This primary is going to be different from the last one that happened between former Governor Segun Oni and co. As at that time former governor Ayodele Fayose was in charge but as of today, to the best of my knowledge, Fayose is not in PDP. I stand to be corrected. That kind of primary is not going to happen any longer because we are united in PDP as of today.”
Responding to the chances of Oluyede in the forthcoming primary election, the aspirant’s Spokesperson, Gani Salau, assured of Oluyede’s victory at the poll.
” We are on ground in Ekiti and this is just a step of what is to come when the time is ripe. Dr. Wole Oluyede is the right person, he has all it takes. Though, we have other aspirants as well but at the end they will still come around to work with our candidate at the end of the primary.”
Salau who dismissed that there is still division within the fold of the PDP, described such as untrue and baseless, adding that those who used to sow seeds of discord within the PDP have left the party.
” Those ‘PDAPC’ are no longer with us and so they can no longer cause any strife and I am happy that they are getting what they deserve in the other camp, but as for us in Oluyede’s team we will not only win the primary but also win the governorship elections as well.”
The governorship aspirant lamented that,” Ekiti people are wallowing in poverty, hunger, unemployment and experiencing untold hardship under the current administration in the state.”
Oluyede restated that he is in the race to restore better lives and prosperity in Ekiti, urging the people of the state to support his ambition to unseat Governor Biodun Oyebanji and dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s election.
