By Samuel Sunday
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially flagged off its campaign for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, declaring its readiness to defeat the incumbent administration in the June polls.
Party leaders and stakeholders converged in Ikere Ekiti on Monday as the PDP inaugurated its campaign committee for its governorship candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede, signaling the formal start of electioneering activities across the state.
The event drew top party figures from across Ekiti State, including former political office holders, local government party leaders, women and youth leaders as well as members of the state executive council.
Speakers at the gathering described the election as a referendum on governance, insisting that widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration has positioned the PDP for victory.
Speaking on behalf of the campaign leadership, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, Director-General of the Oluyede Campaign Council, expressed confidence in the party’s preparedness and strategy. He said the PDP was battle-ready, noting that he had led similar campaigns successfully in the past. Ogundipe stated that the party would mobilize people and other citizens who, according to him, have suffered from poor governance, adding that Ekiti voters would “deal with inefficiency” at the polls.
He dismissed claims that the PDP was weak on the ground, describing such narratives as signs of fear within the ruling party as he accused the incumbent government of prioritizing irrelevant projects while ignoring the immediate needs of the people, insisting that history would repeat itself, as no Ekiti governor, he said, has successfully secured a second term.
In his acceptance speech, the PDP’s Deputy Governorship Candidate, Hon. Deji Ogunsakin, expressed gratitude to the party leadership for his nomination and pledged total commitment to the campaign.
He thanked the governorship candidate, Dr. Oluyede, and party leaders for the confidence reposed in him, describing the ticket as one capable of restoring good governance to the state.
The deputy governorship candidate acknowledged that the party faced difficult moments after the 2022 election but said the PDP remained resilient and united. He described the current administration as unpopular, even within its own party, and expressed confidence that the PDP would win convincingly despite what he called desperate political maneuvers.
Speaking on the issues surrounding his nomination and the omission of his name by INEC, the deputy governorship candidate said he had taken lawful steps to correct the error. He confirmed that the matter was before the court, stressing that his only demand was the inclusion of his name on the ballot as a duly nominated candidate of the party.
Earlier, the governorship candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede, thanked party members for their loyalty and resilience, describing the inauguration as historic. He said the PDP conducted a peaceful and credible primary election and had successfully weathered internal disputes through dialogue and legal means.
Dr. Oluyede announced the formation of a 20,000-member campaign committee, with at least ten members assigned to each polling unit across the state. He said the campaign enjoyed massive grassroots support from both party members and non-party members dissatisfied with the current government and challenged the incumbent governor to face the electorate.
The event ended with the unveiling of key campaign officials and committees, including women advocacy groups, as party members reaffirmed their commitment to reclaim power in Ekiti State under the banner of the PDP in the June 2026 governorship election.
