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Major opposition parties have selected their candidates for the June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti State.
The Nigerian Tribune reported that the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, was unanimously chosen as the candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) two weeks ago, as he seeks re-election.
Over the weekend, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and Accord Party all announced their candidates to compete in next year’s election against the incumbent.
Dr. Wole Oluyede, a former governorship candidate and a medical doctor who has transitioned into politics, was declared the winner of the PDP governorship primary.
Oluyede from Ikere-Ekiti, in the Southern Senatorial District who was the ADC candidate in the 2022 governorship election, defeated two other contestants in the PDP indirect primary concluded at about 4am on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti.
The chairman of the primary election committee and former governor of Gombe State, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo who declared the results of the primary election, said Oluyede polled 279 votes, to defeat major challenger, Dr Funsho Ayeni who scored 239 votes, and Mrs Funmilayo Ogun garnered 17 votes.
The fourth aspirant, Otunba Peter Obafemi withdrew from the race moments before the voting started.
The Senator representing Gombe North commended delegates from the 16 Local Government Areas, aspirants and party stakeholders in the state for the peaceful and successful conduct of the exercise.
Speaking after his declaration as the PDP candidate, Oluyede commended the party delegates for the confidence reposed in him, promising not to disappoint the party in its quest to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the ADC, a former Nigerian ambassador to Canada, Dare Bejide defeated a former deputy governor of the state, Professor Kolapo Olusola-Eleka to win the party’s ticket.
Bejide, a former Secretary to the State Government, scored 15,466 votes to defeat four other contestants, including Olusola-Eleka who came second with 12,003 votes in the direct mode of primaries conducted across the state.
Other aspirants, Femi Adegbite scored 9,141 votes, Emmanuel Fayose polled 2,865 votes and Ayodele Adesua scored 135 votes respectively.
The Chairman of the ADC Primary Election Committee, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, who announced the results before the monitoring team from INEC, Security Agencies, and the media, stated that the Committee stepped down the results from Ilejemeje and Oye Local Government Areas and cancelled those of Emure Local Government due to irregularities.
She described the primary election in the state as very peaceful and praised the party members who came out in large numbers to participate in the election in all 16 local governments across the state.
A philanthropist, Opeyemi Falegan emerged as the candidate of the Accord pary, while David Bankole was picked as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate.
Also, Professor Oyebanji Olajuyin was elected as the consensus candidate of the Labour Party and an entrepreneur, Blessing Abegunde was elected as the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
