Dr. Wole Oluyede, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, has maintained that his backing for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid will not compromise his allegiance to the PDP.
Oluyede said his decision to campaign for Tinubu should not be interpreted as an indication that he has abandoned the opposition party. He stressed that he remains a recognised and dedicated PDP member, adding that his support for the president was based on what he described as the national interest.
The former governorship contender made the clarification in Ado-Ekiti while addressing members of the Oluyede Progressive Alliance for Renewed Hope Agenda (OPARHA) during the group’s maiden meeting.
He appealed to his followers to put aside the controversies and disagreements that followed the 2026 Ekiti governorship election and focus on supporting Tinubu’s Renewed Hope programme.
According to Oluyede, the alliance has attracted supporters from different political platforms, including the PDP, Accord Party, Action Democratic Party (ADP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Action Alliance (AA) and other political associations backing the president’s second-term ambition.
He explained that his decision to support Tinubu came after an interaction with officials of the presidency. Oluyede said the president reached out to him and encouraged him to put the grievances arising from the Ekiti election behind him and cooperate with the Federal Government.
He clarified that Tinubu never instructed him to quit the PDP. Instead, the president simply requested his assistance in securing another term in office in 2027.
Oluyede also announced that he had resolved his political differences with Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji. He said the two politicians had agreed to work together toward achieving victory for Tinubu in the state.
He insisted that the coalition was not established because of financial considerations. Rather, he said its members were brought together by their shared belief that supporting certain government policies would contribute to the advancement of the country.
Recalling events surrounding the 2026 election, Oluyede said he travelled to Abuja disappointed after what he considered an unpleasant experience during the poll. He disclosed that the president later contacted him and advised him to let go of the anger generated by the election.
Oluyede said the president’s intervention helped create room for reconciliation and cooperation between them.
Despite his support for Tinubu, the PDP chieftain expressed confidence that the opposition party would eventually regain control of Ekiti State. He predicted that the PDP could reclaim the state during the 2030 governorship election.
He emphasised that his current involvement in the alliance supporting Tinubu at the national level would not change his political allegiance in Ekiti. Oluyede therefore reiterated that he remains committed to the PDP while working with other groups to support the president’s 2027 presidential campaign.
