Africa-Press – Nigeria. Thousands of Ekiti residents on Wednesday rallied their support around a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Wole Oluyede ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election in the state.
Oluyede, who officially declared his intention to join the gubernatorial race, was received by party leaders and members at his ward in Ugele Aroku, Ikere Ekiti.
Speaking with journalists, he decried the deplorable state of roads across the state, stating that the incumbent government under Governor Biodun Oyebanji has not put any physical structure in place to make transportation easy for residents.
The aspirant, who also condemned the weak infrastructural development in the state, said that PDP in Ekiti is alive and ready to challenge any political force and claim victory come 2026 Guber poll.
He vowed to make use of every connection within his reach to make Ekiti better if elected as governor, stressing that his unwavering commitment to the growth and development of the state remains unshakable.
Oluyede urged party members and Ikere Ekiti residents to get their voter’s cards, describing it as the only weapon to fight against the incumbent government in the state and kick them out of power.
Oluyede said, “Oyebanji has tried, but we’ll send him back to Ikogosi. I’ve always said one thing, the only reason Wole Oluyede will run for office in Ekiti is because nothing works. Can anybody truly say their lives are better today than they were four years ago? I don’t know anybody who can say that.
“Four years ago, the roads were better. People were happier. Their lives were better but what have we had? Four wasted years. That is the only reason I’m running, to make life better for our people.
“This is my homestead. The first time I came here was in 1970. I was about seven years old then and sadly, I can’t see any real change since then. Nobody has even changed their rooftops. That is how bad it is.
“There’s no running water, no tarred roads. Houses are collapsing, is that what we call growth? Is that a sign of progress? That is why I am running and I will keep running until things get better.
“Every party has people leaving, that is politics. Political parties are free entry and free exit. If you disagree, you leave.
“But PDP is very much alive in Ekiti. I remember some people saying a few months ago that PDP is dead. Does it look like a dead party now? I told them, you should be careful of a deep, sitting or moving stream, you don’t know how deep it is.
“Our party in Ekiti has no problem. The people who have left PDP are those who couldn’t find their footing. They are very few and we know them. It doesn’t shake the foundation of PDP.
“I hereby declare my intention to run. PDP’s presence in Ekiti is clear, the deaf can hear, the blind can see. We’ll get to Oke-Ayaba in 2026. Ikere is ready to take its rightful place in Ekiti politics.”
A former PDP national Chairman in Southwest, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe described Oluyede as the right choice for Ekiti, saying Ikere has the voting capacity to oust the incumbent Governor, Biodun Oyebanji from office.
A leader of the PDP, Sehinde Daramola also urged party members to desist from running after incentives from the aspirant, saying this would not only taint their integrity but also affect Oluyede’s victory at the pool.
He lamented the deceit and dishonesty among members, stressing that it’s the major factor that has contributed to the division within PDP, urging them to play politics as it’s supposed to be.
A former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole equally urged the youths, aged and women to rally around the aspirant, saying only a positive transition can make Ekiti reclaim its leadership role among the subnationals in the country.
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