By Opeyemi Adelakun
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Dr Oluwole Oluyede, has unveiled an ambitious mobilisation plan aimed at delivering 90 per cent of votes cast in the state to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Oluyede, who contested the June 20, 2026 Ekiti governorship election on the platform of the PDP, said the target could be achieved through sustained grassroots engagement and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 poll.
The politician, who is also the Convener of the Oluyede Progressive Alliance for Renewed Hope Agenda, said he had activated the structure of OPARHA to begin preparations for the campaign.
He made the disclosure in a statement released in Ado Ekiti on Monday after returning from a two-week holiday.
According to Oluyede, the mobilisation would not be restricted to members of a particular political party, as he urged individuals in the PDP, All Progressives Congress and other political groups who share his vision for a prosperous Ekiti and stronger Nigeria to join the initiative.
He said the 2027 election should be viewed beyond partisan competition, describing it as an opportunity to consolidate ongoing development efforts.
Oluyede said he supported Tinubu’s bid for a second term because he believed continuity was necessary for reforms to produce lasting results.
“I believe President Bola Tinubu deserves a second term. Nigeria cannot continue to start all over again every four years. If we have begun a process of reform, we must allow that process to mature and consolidate,” he said.
The PDP chieftain said he was prepared to work with Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji and other stakeholders to pursue the 90 per cent target.
Explaining how he intended to achieve the objective, Oluyede said OPARHA would take its campaign directly to communities across the state.
“We are going to the people. We are going to mobilise. OPARHA will take the message to every door, every household, every ward and every community. We will explain why President Tinubu deserves another term and allow our people to make an informed decision,” he said.
He added, “I want to assure Mr President that we are ready to work with Governor Oyebanji and every stakeholder who believes in the progress of Ekiti and Nigeria. Our target is 90 per cent of the voters registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ekiti State.”
Oluyede acknowledged the scale of the ambition but maintained that it was achievable with a coordinated grassroots operation.
“It is a huge target, but it is achievable. We are going to work for it. The target is not merely about winning an election, but about building a political bridge among different groups in Ekiti and strengthening the relationship between the state and federal governments,” he said.
He said OPARHA would deploy its structure across Ekiti’s 16 local government areas and 177 wards to drive the mobilisation.
Meanwhile, Oluyede dismissed suggestions that his post-election holiday indicated a withdrawal from politics.
He explained that the two-week break came after a series of consultations and political engagements following the governorship election, adding that it gave him an opportunity to rest and assess political developments in Ekiti and Nigeria.
He said the consultations also focused on encouraging members of the PDP and APC to work together on issues affecting the state and the country.
“…beyond party politics, we must begin to think about what is best for Nigeria and, particularly, what is best for Ekiti State,” he said.
Oluyede further disclosed that he met with Tinubu after the election, describing the meeting as part of his efforts to build political understanding ahead of 2027.
“I honoured the fatherly invitation of Mr President, Bola Tinubu. We had very meaningful discussions, and we both agreed that we must work together towards 2027,” he said.
He stressed that the engagement did not amount to abandoning his political identity.
“For me, that was not about abandoning my political identity. It was about putting Nigeria and the interests of our people first,” he said.
Oluyede also confirmed a meeting with Governor Oyebanji, which he described as frank and constructive.
“I also met with our governor, Biodun Oyebanji. We had a frank and constructive discussion, and we agreed that regardless of our political backgrounds, we must be on the same page when it comes to the development and future of Ekiti State,” he said.
According to him, the engagement with Oyebanji formed part of a wider effort to promote political cooperation across party lines as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
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