A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, aligned with Nyesom Wike, has outlined conditions that must be met before Wole Oluyede can be accepted as the party’s governorship candidate for the June 20, 2026 election. The position was made known on Friday in Ado Ekiti during a press briefing by the faction’s state chairman, Lanre Omolase.
Omolase said the group does not yet recognise Oluyede as its candidate, explaining that the politician is still linked to another faction led by Taminu Turaki, which is facing legal restrictions over its claim to the party’s national leadership. He added that Oluyede has not formally aligned himself with the structure and leadership of the faction he represents.
According to him, for Oluyede to be accepted, he must submit himself fully to the recognised party leadership in the state and ensure that his political group becomes part of the existing structure from the ward level up to the state level. He also stated that any eventual candidate must operate within the party’s constitution and leadership framework without conditions.
Oluyede had earlier emerged as a candidate from the Turaki-led group, and his nomination received backing from a Court of Appeal ruling. Reports also indicated that he recently met with Wike in Abuja, a move that some of his supporters believe could help unify the party ahead of the election.
Despite these developments, the Ekiti faction maintained that proper integration into its structure remains necessary before any recognition can be granted. The group, however, expressed readiness for the upcoming governorship poll, stating that ongoing internal processes show the party’s ability to organise and prepare for the election.