PDP candidate vows to prioritise security investment

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s security architecture to ensure the safety of lives and property, as well as make the state more investment-friendly.

Oluyede said that if elected in the June 20 governorship election, his administration would prioritise investment in security to protect lives and property and attract investors to Ekiti State.

The PDP candidate, speaking with journalists at his Ikere-Ekiti residence on Monday, also expressed concern over the continued captivity of 16 worshippers abducted by gunmen during an evening church service at Eda Oniyo, Ekiti, in Ilejemeje Local Government Area on April 28.

He reiterated that “good governance, security, and accountability should remain central issues in political discourse, both in Ekiti State and across the country.”

The PDP candidate made a case for the availability of drones for deployment when necessary, surveillance technology, solar-powered police stations, improved emergency communication systems and stronger collaboration between conventional security agencies and traditional community-based security structures.

Oluyede, while harping on the need for adequate investment in security, said no meaningful economic growth, investment or development could occur in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

He said, “There can be no development without security. Investors will not come to a place where people are afraid to live and do business. Security must be treated as the foundation of development.”

He accused the state government of failing to adequately equip security agencies, saying fear had become a defining feature of life in parts of the state, with residents increasingly unable to attend social, religious and community gatherings without concerns over their safety.

Oluyede painted a grim picture of policing infrastructure across the state, describing many police stations as dilapidated, poorly equipped and unfit for effective security operations.

He said: “I have visited some police stations across Ekiti. Many of them look like abandoned facilities. There are no adequate seats, no functional equipment and no conducive environment for officers to work. If I were a police officer serving in some of these stations, I would be depressed.”

The governorship candidate further lamented the lack of modern security tools, noting that many officers still rely on obsolete vehicles, poor communication systems and manual documentation processes in an era increasingly driven by technology.

The PDP candidate dismissed suggestions that endorsements by political heavyweights would determine the outcome of the election, saying voters would ultimately decide based on performance, competence and issues that directly affect their lives.

“They have seen us, they know what we are capable of doing and will vote for me,” he said.