The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday formally issued a Certificate of Return to its Ekiti State governorship candidate, Dr. Oluwole Oluyede, following his victory in the party’s primary election last month.
The presentation ceremony, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, drew a large gathering of party chieftains including members of the National Executive Committee, PDP governors, lawmakers, and former Board of Trustees members who converged at the venue to affirm Oluyede’s candidacy.
While handing over the certificate, PDP National Chairman Kabiru Turaki noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had endorsed the event and was represented both at the primary election and at Wednesday’s ceremony.
Turaki urged Oluyede to view his emergence as both a vote of confidence and a call to duty, stressing that the 2026 Ekiti governorship race would be fiercely contested.
He added that the PDP remains the preferred choice of many Nigerians and charged the party’s flagbearer to work tirelessly to reclaim Ekiti State for the opposition.
In his acceptance speech, Oluyede thanked the party’s leadership for trusting him with the ticket.
He pledged to campaign across all local government areas in Ekiti State and deliver victory for the PDP.
He praised the Primary Election Organising Committee for conducting what he described as a credible and resilient process despite several challenges.
Assuring voters of transformational leadership, Oluyede said electing him would mark “true liberation” for Ekiti State and accelerate economic development long overdue in the region.
Oluyede clinched the PDP ticket after winning the party’s primary held between November 8 and the early hours of November 9.
He secured 279 votes, defeating his closest rival Funso Ayeni, who scored 239 votes, while Funmilayo Ogun finished with 17 votes.
With the Certificate of Return now in hand, Oluyede’s campaign machinery is expected to shift into full gear as the countdown to the 2026 Ekiti governorship election begins.
