Former Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr Oluwole Olumayokun Oluyede, on Wednesday unveiled the Oluyede Progressive Alliance for Renewed Hope Agenda (OPARHA) as a grassroots movement to promote President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with over 5,000 PDP stakeholders attending its inaugural meeting in Ado-Ekiti.
The event, held at the Eagle Hall Event Centre along the Ado-Ekiti–Ikere Road, was Oluyede’s first major engagement with his political supporters since the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
Representatives of the PDP from the state’s 16 local government areas and 177 wards attended the meeting.
The gathering, initially planned for about 2,000 representatives, reportedly attracted more than 5,000 accredited stakeholders, including party leaders, ward executives, former candidates, elders, youth and women leaders, polling unit coordinators, campaign coordinators and grassroots mobilisers.
The turnout transformed the meeting into a show of support for the former governorship candidate, with supporters arriving from different parts of the state hours before his arrival.
They sang solidarity songs and displayed banners as they awaited Oluyede, whose arrival was greeted with chants of “Oluyede! Oluyede!!” and “The Journey Continues!”
Addressing the gathering, Oluyede thanked members of his political family for their support before, during and after the election.
He said the meeting was an opportunity to appreciate party members, volunteers, polling agents, women, youths and other supporters who worked for his campaign.
“Today is not just another political meeting. It is a family reunion. It is an opportunity for me to say thank you to every member of our political family and to the good people of Ekiti State who stood firmly with us before, during and after the governorship election,” he said.
Oluyede said the decision to establish OPARHA followed months of consultations on how to remain involved in the development of Ekiti and Nigeria after the election.
He described the movement as a non-electoral grassroots platform focused on civic participation, national unity and public engagement.
According to him, the decision to align the movement with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was based on his belief that political differences should not hinder national development.
“Politics should never become an obstacle to national progress. Elections come and go, but the responsibility of building our nation remains,” he said.
Oluyede, who recalled his role in the South West Agenda for Asiwaju, SWAGA, said his commitment to progressive leadership had remained consistent.
He said OPARHA would establish structures across the 16 local government areas and 177 wards of the state, with emphasis on community engagement, policy communication, youth mobilisation, women’s participation, research, town hall meetings and feedback between government and citizens.
The movement operates under the theme, “Mobilising Grassroots Support for National Development,” and the motto, “One Ekiti. One Vision. Renewed Hope.”
Oluyede also announced plans to commence consultations with leaders and stakeholders across political parties and groups, including the PDP, All Progressives Congress, Labour Party, African Democratic Congress, Social Democratic Party, traditional institutions, youth and women groups, market associations, artisans, farmers, professionals and civil society organisations.
He said the consultations would help build a broad grassroots network ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Leadership is not defined by winning an election alone. Leadership is measured by the willingness to continue serving the people despite challenges. My commitment to Ekiti State remains unwavering,” he said.
The event climaxed with the unveiling of the OPARHA logo, vision, organisational structure and implementation roadmap.
The stakeholders subsequently pledged to return to their respective local government areas and wards to begin consultations and grassroots mobilisation in line with the movement’s objectives.
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