By Our Correspondent

National News – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to a public debate ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election.

The challenge was made to allow voters to assess the performance of the current administration and compare it with the PDP’s development blueprint.

Oluyede made the call during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Sunday, attended by party members across 177 wards in the state.

He said his campaign would focus on issue-based governance, promising job creation, affordable healthcare, prompt gratuity payments, and improved infrastructure if elected governor.

He also emphasised that his campaign strategy would be data-driven, with clear implementation timelines across education, infrastructure, and economic development sectors to ensure accountability.

Oluyede further urged intensified grassroots engagement, saying his campaign will use data analysis and voter feedback to design practical solutions for citizens’ needs.

He encouraged party members and supporters to mobilise across communities, describing grassroots engagement as key to winning the election and understanding voter expectations directly.

The Ekiti governorship election is expected to be a major political contest between the PDP and APC, with debates, campaign promises, and voter outreach shaping public perception ahead of the poll.

Analysts say a public debate could strongly influence undecided voters by comparing leadership records, policy ideas, and development plans.

It also reflects growing demand for transparent, data-backed campaigning as voters prepare to choose their next governor.

Both parties are expected to intensify campaigns in the coming weeks ahead of the election.