Ekiti 2026: Close ranks with Fayose, others – Wike-backed PDP faction urges Oluyede

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

Following the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan and upheld the suspension of several national officers, the faction backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has inaugurated new executives of the party in Ekiti.

Speaking with journalists over the weekend after the inauguration of the new executives held in Ado-Ekiti, the Chairman of the congress committee, Philip Adebiyi, has urged the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Wole Oluyede, to close ranks with former Governor, Ayodele Fayose and other party leaders in order to make meaningful impact in the forthcoming June 20 poll in Ekiti.

The congress, which was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, produced Lanre Omolase, an ally of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, as the party Chairman, while a former Commissioner in the State, Chief Tunde Ogunleye, emerged as Secretary.

Other members of the State Working Committee elected at the congress were Babatunde Akande, Deputy Chairman; Femi Philips, Publicity Secretary; Lawrence Odunayo, Organising Secretary; Olugbenga Agbede, Legal Adviser; Ayodele Oluwatoyin Bosede, Women Leader; Banji Femi, Youth Leader; Gani Bakare, Financial Secretary.

Others are Anike Folasade, Treasurer; Ajayi Joseph, Auditor and Sunday Olowolafe, Adeniyi Adefemi and Segun Olatunji as Senatorial Chairmen South, Central and North respectively.

Adebiyi expressed satisfaction in the conduct of the exercise, saying the leadership is working assiduously to rebuild the party ahead of the 2027 general election.

His words, “The next step is to bring all party members together for reconciliation.

“After the Court ruling, the first thing Oluyede should do is to reach out to the leader of the party in the state which is Ayodele Fayose and bring everybody together.

“If he’s staying outside, it will be very difficult for him to make any meaningful impact in the coming election; he should close ranks. If he decides to work with the party fine; if not, he’s on his own.”

Also speaking, a former gubernatorial candidate of the party during the 2022 Ekiti gubernatorial poll, Bisi Kolawole, said plans are underway to rebuild the fractured structure of the party and reposition it for future political success.

Kolawole, who also serves as a member of the party’s National Caretaker Working Committee, acknowledged that the party had experienced internal challenges in recent times.

He expressed confidence that the leadership at the national level was working diligently to restore unity, strengthen internal democracy and rebuild the confidence of members across the country.

Kolawole added that consultations were ongoing among party leaders and stakeholders to ensure that the PDP emerges stronger and more united, while also charging the newly elected state executives to remain loyal to the party and work collectively in order to move the party forward.

In his remarks, the newly elected Chairman of the party in Ekiti, Lanre Omolase, called for commitment among party members, assuring that the party will rise again.

He said he will lead the party with the fear of God and ensure that the party regain its lost grounds in the State

Omolase maintained that the party is ready to work with Oluyede if he approaches PDP genuinely and is ready to close ranks with leaders of the party.

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