Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the June 20, 2026, election in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has rejected the outcome of the poll, declaring that the exercise fell short of the standards of a free, fair, credible and acceptable election. In a personally signed statement titled “A Message of Gratitude, Hope and Commitment to the People of Ekiti State,” made available in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, 5 July 2026, Oluyede said he was consulting extensively with the leadership of his party and his legal team before deciding on his next course of action. The Independent National Electoral Commission had, in the early hours of Sunday, 21 June 2026, declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress the winner of the election with 319,224 votes, while Oluyede secured 40,543 votes to place second. Despite the wide margin, Oluyede insisted that the official results did not reflect the true will of Ekiti voters, citing numerous reports of irregularities that he said demand transparent and impartial examination.
Oluyede's rejection of the results was not a sudden decision. His campaign organisation had, immediately after the declaration, issued a statement through its Director of Media and Communications, Chief Sanya Atofarati, unequivocally rejecting the results announced by INEC. The campaign alleged that the election was deeply flawed and fell far short of the standards of credibility, transparency, fairness and integrity expected in a democratic society. According to the statement, PDP agents, supporters and numerous voters reported widespread irregularities, including vote buying, voter intimidation, harassment of opposition supporters and other practices that undermined the sanctity of the electoral process. The campaign also expressed concern about the conduct of some security operatives who, rather than maintaining neutrality, allegedly acted in ways that compromised public confidence in the electoral process.
In his Sunday statement, Oluyede elaborated on the specific concerns that informed his position. He said reports from polling agents across the 16 local government areas, information available to his campaign and his own assessment of events led him to believe that the election fell short of the standard Ekiti people deserved. He pointed to "numerous reports of voter inducement, intimidation, operational challenges involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, delayed accreditation and other alleged irregularities" as issues that have raised serious questions about the credibility of the exercise. Oluyede maintained that the circumstances surrounding the election suggested a process whose outcome appeared predetermined, thereby depriving Ekiti voters of their fundamental right to freely choose their leaders.
While criticising the conduct of the election, Oluyede expressed gratitude to party members and supporters who stood firm in their convictions and refused to exchange their conscience for personal gain. He acknowledged that the official results credited the PDP with 40,543 votes and said he owed every supporter "a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot repay". He also took a swipe at unnamed individuals who, according to him, had benefited politically from the PDP but were now declaring the party politically irrelevant in Ekiti State. Oluyede said his participation in the election went beyond seeking office, describing his mission as one to restore hope, defend democratic choice and strengthen democratic participation in the state.
On the path forward, Oluyede said he was consulting with the PDP leadership, his lawyers and members of his legal team. He stressed that any decision taken would be guided by wisdom, responsibility, respect for democratic institutions and the rule of law. He assured supporters that their sacrifices would not be in vain and promised to continue advocating for the interests of Ekiti State. "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," Oluyede said. He also urged his supporters and members of the party to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the consultation process continues.
The election, which was contested by 13 political parties, saw the African Democratic Congress candidate, Dare Bejide, finish third with 12,872 votes. Bejide had also rejected the result, describing the exercise as not credible. Governor Oyebanji, who secured a decisive victory, has been declared the winner and is set to continue his tenure. However, Oluyede's rejection of the results and his ongoing consultations with lawyers and party leaders indicate that the PDP may be considering a legal challenge to the outcome. The candidate's call for a transparent and impartial examination of the alleged irregularities suggests that the Ekiti governorship election dispute may not yet be fully resolved, with the possibility of an election petition looming at the tribunal.
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