…as Oluyede describes his victory as “a collective triumph for all members of the PDP.
ADO-EKITI, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded its governorship primary election in Ekiti State, with renowned medical expert, Dr. Wole Oluyede, emerging as the party’s flagbearer after a fiercely contested poll.
The exercise, held in Ado-Ekiti, commenced around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday and concluded at 1:49 a.m. Sunday morning. A total of 535 delegates drawn from the 177 wards across the state participated in the primary election.
Announcing the results, Chairman of the PDP Governorship Primary Election Committee and Senator representing Gombe North, Ibrahim Dankwambo, declared Oluyede winner with 279 votes. His closest rival, Funsho Ayeni, polled 239 votes, while Funmilayo Ogun garnered 17 votes.
One of the aspirants, Peter Obafemi, stepped down before voting commenced, citing the unity of the party as his motivation. “My decision is not for personal gain but for the peace and progress of our great party. Dr. Oluyede is a man of integrity who can lead us to victory,” Obafemi stated.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Oluyede described his victory as “a collective triumph for all members of the PDP,” praising the transparency of the process and the fairness shown by the electoral committee. He extended gratitude to the party’s national leadership, singling out Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, and Southwest leader, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for ensuring a credible process.
“This victory is not mine alone but for every PDP member who believes in Ekiti’s future. Together, we will restore hope, rebuild trust, and reclaim Ekiti from years of misrule. It is time to return good governance to our people,” Oluyede declared to loud cheers from supporters.
However, Funsho Ayeni, who came second in the race, expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of the exercise, alleging manipulation in the process. He assured party members that he would explore internal mechanisms to address his concerns.
The PDP’s successful primary sets the stage for what promises to be a heated governorship contest in Ekiti, as Oluyede prepares to face the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls.
