Rt. Hon. Kola Oluwawole, a former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and members in Ekiti to carefully select dependable and honest individuals as ad-hoc delegates for the party’s upcoming governorship primary scheduled for November 8.
He emphasized that this strategic choice is crucial to ensuring the emergence of a well-suited and widely supported candidate to represent the PDP in the June 2026 governorship election.
This call comes in the context of Dr. Wole Oluyede, a PDP governorship hopeful in Ekiti, who recently acquired the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms ahead of the primary election.
Speaking at a ceremony in Ikere Ekiti where Oluyede signed his nomination forms, Oluwawole, a staunch backer of Oluyede’s candidacy, addressed PDP officials from all 16 local government areas of the state.
He stated, “I urge all our leaders and members at the local government and ward levels to return home and vigorously mobilize party members. It is imperative that the three delegates elected from each of the 177 wards are individuals of integrity and loyalty, who will steadfastly support Dr. Oluyede as the party’s candidate.”
“This responsibility must be approached with utmost seriousness to guarantee that those chosen as delegates are trustworthy and will not betray the party on primary day,” he added.
Present at the event was Mrs. Kemi Oluyede, wife of the aspirant, who encouraged the women in attendance to continue their unwavering support and prayers for her husband’s campaign.
The gathering also included prominent PDP figures such as Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, former National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the party.
Oluwawole also voiced concerns over the steep fees associated with the nomination process, highlighting the 40 million naira nomination form, 10 million naira expression of interest form, and an additional 1 million naira administrative charge, totaling 51 million naira. He described these costs as excessive, especially given the current economic hardships faced by many.
“Frankly, the pricing of the PDP’s governorship nomination and expression of interest forms is prohibitively high, particularly since our party is not currently in power in Ekiti State. To encourage qualified aspirants to come forward, the fees should have been more reasonable,” he remarked.
“Some members believe this pricing strategy is a deliberate attempt by certain high-ranking individuals to discourage active participation from the Ekiti PDP chapter in the forthcoming election. It appears to be a tactic by opposition elements to weaken our party through insiders who straddle both PDP and APC affiliations. There are strong suspicions that these fees were influenced by such interests.”
“Dr. Oluyede has secured his forms, but it is essential for us, as party members and his supporters, to endorse and complete all necessary formalities to solidify his candidacy,” Oluwawole added.
He stressed the gravity of this phase, noting, “The submission of these forms marks the official start of the contest. Our opponents underestimated the possibility of a strong contender emerging, but we are grateful to have a capable, experienced, and dynamic aspirant in Dr. Oluyede, who is poised to win the June 2026 governorship election.”
Oluwawole reminded attendees that the PDP constitution mandates that at least one of the three delegates elected from each ward must be female, underscoring the importance of adhering to this rule to avoid invalidation of the delegate selection process in any ward.
He encouraged party members to intensify efforts in mobilizing and educating voters, stating, “Our state is grappling with poverty and hardship, making it imperative to elect leaders with innovative ideas and effective policies that will improve the lives of our people.”
Confident in Oluyede’s prospects, the former Speaker declared that he is the leading candidate within the PDP and will ultimately secure victory in the 2026 governorship race.
Also addressing the gathering, Gani Salau, spokesperson for the PDP aspirant, alongside Hon. Martins Ajayi, a party leader from Irepodun/Ifelodun local government, affirmed that Dr. Oluyede is a formidable contender with strong chances of winning both the party primary and the general election.
Ajayi expressed optimism that the primary election would be conducted transparently and smoothly, highlighting the renewed unity within the PDP.
Salau reiterated that Oluyede is well-positioned and, with divine favor, will secure the party’s ticket on November 8 and triumph in the 2026 governorship election.
