…Ekiti PDP maintained that its State Chairman, Tunji Odeyemi, along with the current State Working Committee (SWC), remains the legitimate leadership,
EKITI, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has dismissed the outcome of a parallel state congress allegedly backed by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, describing it as unconstitutional and not binding on the party’s recognised leadership.
PDP maintained that its State Chairman, Tunji Odeyemi, along with the current State Working Committee (SWC), remains the legitimate leadership, having emerged from a properly conducted congress on October 1, 2025, under the supervision of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Speaking to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, Odeyemi stated that the October 2025 congress, which was monitored by security agencies, produced a four-year mandate that has not been overturned by any court.
“I want to make it clear that the recent congress is not connected to our leadership. The mandate freely given to us on October 1, 2025, is still valid, and no court has nullified it,” he said.
The dispute comes after a faction of PDP, linked to Wike, inaugurated a separate set of executives led by Lanre Omolase, following a Court of Appeal ruling that impacted the PDP’s national leadership structure.
Odeyemi also cited a Federal High Court judgment that affirmed Wole Oluyede as the party’s governorship candidate in Ekiti State and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him, noting that the ruling has settled earlier disputes over the ticket.
Meanwhile, the PDP deputy governorship candidate, Deji Ogunsakin, expressed optimism about the party’s prospects in the upcoming election, citing public dissatisfaction with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Ogunsakin rejected claims of any leadership change within the party, describing those behind the parallel congress as suspended members whose actions lack legal backing. He added that attempts to impose a caretaker arrangement are unlawful and merely distract from the party’s preparations for the election.
