The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, Wole Oluyede, has insisted that the election failed to meet the standards of a free, fair and credible democratic exercise.
Oluyede said he was still consulting with leaders of his party and his legal team to determine the next line of action following the outcome of the election, stressing that any decision would be guided by the rule of law and the interest of the people of Ekiti State.
The PDP candidate made his position known in a personally signed statement titled *”A Message of Gratitude, Hope and Commitment to the People of Ekiti State,”* which was made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday.
His comments came barely two weeks after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the governorship election.
INEC had announced that Oyebanji secured 319,224 votes to win a second term in office, while Oluyede polled 40,543 votes to finish second.
Despite congratulating PDP members and supporters for standing by the party, Oluyede maintained that the election did not reflect the expectations of Ekiti people for a transparent and credible electoral process.
He thanked party faithful and voters who supported his candidacy, saying they demonstrated courage by voting according to their conscience despite the challenges encountered during the election.
“The official results declared by INEC credited our great party with 40,543 votes. To every one of you who stood firmly with us and refused to exchange your conscience for personal gain, I owe you a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot repay,” he said.
However, the PDP candidate argued that reports received from party agents across the state’s 16 local government areas suggested that the election was marred by several irregularities.
According to him, information gathered by his campaign organisation and his personal assessment of events showed that the exercise fell below acceptable democratic standards.
“My position regarding the conduct of the election remains clear. Based on reports received from our polling agents across the 16 local government areas, information available to our campaign 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 stated.
Oluyede alleged that the election was affected by voter inducement, intimidation, operational difficulties involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), delayed accreditation of voters and other irregularities.
He said the allegations had raised serious concerns that deserved transparent and impartial investigation.
Although he criticised the conduct of the election, the PDP candidate said he remained committed to pursuing any grievances through lawful means.
He said consultations were ongoing with the leadership of the party, his lawyers and members of his legal team before a final decision would be taken.
“As someone who has great respect for the Office of the President and for His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I believe every step we take after this election must be guided by wisdom, responsibility and respect for our democratic institutions,” Oluyede said.
He added that the outcome of the consultations would be communicated to the people of Ekiti at the appropriate time.
“Whatever decision is eventually taken will always be guided by the rule of law, the interest of our supporters and my unwavering commitment to justice, democracy and the future of Ekiti State,” he stated.
Oluyede assured party supporters that their sacrifices and commitment during the election would not be in vain.
According to him, the support he received throughout the campaign has strengthened his determination to continue fighting for justice and good governance in the state.
“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 said.
He also took a swipe at unnamed politicians whom he accused of turning against the PDP after benefiting from the party in the past.
According to Oluyede, some individuals whose political careers were built on the PDP platform had become vocal critics of the party and repeatedly declared that it no longer had political relevance in Ekiti State.
He expressed disappointment that such figures failed to work towards rebuilding the party and instead predicted its collapse.
“It was both painful and disappointing to watch some individuals who had benefited immensely from the PDP… devote their time and energy to declaring that the PDP was dead in Ekiti State,” he said.
The PDP candidate said he deliberately ignored such criticisms during the campaign because he believed the people of Ekiti would ultimately determine the party’s future.
He noted that despite lacking the support of serving governors, former governors or influential national political figures, his campaign succeeded in mobilising thousands of supporters across the state.
According to him, the outcome of the election showed that the PDP remained a significant political force in Ekiti.
“Today, I can proudly say that the people of Ekiti have answered those voices more eloquently than I ever could. They have proved that the PDP remains alive and deeply rooted in the hearts of our people,” he said.
Oluyede added that his participation in the governorship election was not merely about occupying public office but about protecting democracy, defending the people’s right to choose their leaders and restoring hope among citizens.
He recalled that before the election, he had fought legal battles to ensure that the PDP remained on the ballot, describing the court action as necessary to preserve democratic choice and prevent voters from being denied an alternative.
The Ekiti governorship election attracted national attention because it was one of the major off-cycle elections ahead of the 2027 general elections. Political observers viewed the contest as an important test for both the ruling APC and opposition parties seeking to strengthen their positions before the next nationwide polls.