Ekiti 2026: PDP candidate criticizes claims that the election will be an APC coronation

Oluwole Oluyede, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for governor of Ekiti State, has rejected rumors that the state’s upcoming election will be a coronation, calling them undemocratic and an attempt to subvert popular will.

The June 20 election will be a competitive exercise rather than a ceremonial endorsement of any candidate, according to Oluyede, who stated that Ekiti State functions under a democratic system guided by Nigeria’s Constitution.

He was quoted in a statement released in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday by his media assistant, Gani Salau.

In the Ekiti governorship election, candidates from thirteen political parties are running, including Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress.

Some have hinted that the governor’s bid for a second term would be an easy victory or coronation.

However, in response to an article titled “Ekiti ’26: June 20 will be coronation, not election day for BAO,” the PDP candidate called it “self-indulgent and intellectually dishonest” and accused its author of spreading a false narrative that could deceive voters before the election.b

“Claims that the election result was already settled raise concerns about respect for the electorate,” he continued.

“Ekiti is not a kingdom, and June 20, 2026,, cannot be reduced to a coronation,” stated the PDP candidate. “It will be a contest of ideas, credibility, and the people’s free will,” the statement continued. “Ekiti people have a long history of making independent political decisions and should not be treated as passive observers in determining their future.”

“The realities facing Ekiti residents tell a different story,” Oluyede said, criticizing attempts to present the Oyebanji administration as perfect. Among the major problems that need to be addressed are unemployment, faltering small businesses, and poor infrastructure in the state’s rural areas.

He emphasized that “opposition remains a vital component of democracy by ensuring accountability and offering alternatives to the electorate,” rejecting claims that the state’s opposition parties are irrelevant. He claimed that the current state is far from truly inclusive.

The PDP candidate urged political actors and all election stakeholders, including the media, security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, to fulfill their constitutionally mandated roles in order to guarantee a free and fair process, while reiterating his belief that leadership must be earned through the people’s mandate rather than imposed through elite consensus or political endorsements.

“Ekiti belongs to its people,” Oluyede added, urging residents of Ekiti to exercise their right to vote without fear or intimidation. There won’t be a coronation on June 20, 2026; instead, the people will make that decision.