Wike's faction distances itself from Ekiti PDP's gubernatorial nominee

The Peoples Democratic Party bloc, backed by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, and the group loyal to the governors, are at odds over the party leadership and governorship candidate in Ekiti State, with each side claiming legitimacy.

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The Tanimu Turaki-led group, loyal to the governors, asserts that it is the authentic PDP leadership in the state, having produced Dr Wole Oluyede as the party's governorship candidate for the June 20 governorship election.

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In contrast, the Wike-backed bloc dismisses this claim, stating that the authentic PDP structure has not recognized anyone as its flagbearer for the Ekiti election.

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State chairman of the Turaki group, Tunji Odeyemi, recently held a press briefing, where he described the Wike bloc's state congress as "unconstitutional and not binding on the party's recognised leadership."

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Odeyemi emphasized that the congress held by the Wike group has no bearing on his leadership, citing that the mandate given on October 1, 2025, remains valid, with no court order dissolving it.

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He also referenced a Federal High Court judgment that affirmed Oluyede as the PDP governorship candidate in Ekiti State and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize him, resolving earlier disputes over the party's candidate.

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The Turaki-led PDP group views claims of leadership change within the party in Ekiti as an attempt by self-seekers to distract from the party's preparations for the June 20 governorship election.

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Lanre Omolase, state chairman of the Wike bloc, countered that the Appeal Court judgment recognizing the Abduraham Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee has resolved the issue of faction in PDP.

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Omolase stated that authentic PDP members at all levels are with the Abduraham Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee, and the Ibadan convention's collapse left nothing of the Turaki group.

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He explained that the Abduraham Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee had dissolved the SWC of Ekiti, and the Turaki group's Ekiti SWC was not properly constituted from the onset.

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The Wike-backed bloc criticized Odeyemi for presenting Oluyede as the PDP governorship candidate, despite lacking recognition by any level of the party.

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In a statement signed by Chairman Omolase and Publicity Secretary Femi Phillips, the party emphasized that Dr Oluyede's purported candidature has not been presented to, recognized by, or processed through any duly constituted organ of the party.

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The statement stressed that the PDP in Ekiti State has not formally received any aspirant or endorsed a gubernatorial candidate, and that no individual is greater than the party or its constitution.

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The party reiterated that all political ambitions must be pursued in accordance with established rules, guidelines, and due process.

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The statement pointed out that if Dr Oluyede's candidacy had been formally acknowledged, he would have been visible at official party functions, including the recent inauguration of the State Executive Committee.

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Throughout the tenure of the caretaker committee in the state and following the judgments delivered by the Federal High Court in Ibadan and the Court of Appeal in Abuja, there has been no documented evidence of Dr Oluyede's participation, alignment, or formal engagement with the substantive party structure in Ekiti State.