Ekiti PDP rejects Wike-backed congress, affirms Odeyemi as chairman

2026-03-18 - 18:54

By Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ado-Ekiti The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has rejected the outcome of a parallel state congress allegedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing it as unconstitutional and not binding on the party’s recognised leadership. The party insisted that its State Chairman, Tunji Odeyemi, and the current State Working Committee (SWC) remain the legitimate leadership, having emerged from a duly conducted congress on October 1, 2025, under the supervision of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC). Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, Odeyemi said the October 2025 congress, monitored by security agencies, produced a mandate valid for four years and has not been nullified by any court of law. “I want to state clearly that the congress held recently has nothing to do with our leadership. Our mandate, freely given on October 1, 2025, remains valid, and there has been no court order dissolving it,” he said. The controversy follows the inauguration of a separate set of party executives, led by Lanre Omolase, by a faction of the party linked to Wike, after a Court of Appeal judgment that affected the PDP’s national leadership structure. Odeyemi also referenced a Federal High Court judgment which affirmed Wole Oluyede as the PDP governorship candidate in Ekiti State and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him. He said the ruling has now resolved earlier disputes over the party’s candidate. On his part, the PDP deputy governorship candidate, Deji Ogunsakin, expressed confidence in the party’s chances in the forthcoming election, citing dissatisfaction with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the state. Ogunsakin dismissed claims of a leadership change within the PDP, describing those behind the parallel congress as suspended members whose actions have no legal backing. He added that any attempt to impose a caretaker arrangement is illegal and a distraction from the party’s preparations for the polls.