PDP’s Oluyede withdraws petition against Oyebanji,supports Tinubu

Seeks grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu re-election

By Omolade Adegbuyi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State election, Dr. Wole Oluyede is seeking support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 Presidential election.

Oluyede has also clarified why he has retreated from challenging the current Governor of Ekiti State Mr Abiodun Oyebanji who won by a landslide.

Oluyede said he withdrew the petition out of statesmanship and in the national interest.

He said his decision was not informed by compromise.

The PDP candidate who is a successful candidate based in Australia was a very active member in the June 12 struggle.

Observers think his decision may have been informed partly due to his earliest relationship with June 12 activists of which he and Tinubu stood out.

In a statement he issued on Sunday obtained by Irohinoodua Oluyede said he did not accept any financial inducement for his decision.

He said “I did not collect a kobo from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the APC or anybody else. I did not sell my mandate. My integrity is not for sale,” he said.
Oluyede also insisted the election fell short of global standards but that going to court was not the best strategic option

He said he took the decision to withdraw the case and support Tinubu out of consideration for national interest.

He said he had intended to pursue the petition on allegations of voter inducement, intimidation, accreditation challenges and discrepancies involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), while also defending the mandate of the over 40,000 Ekiti voters who supported his candidacy.

He said “The APC cannot rely on assumptions. Every election must be fought afresh and every vote must be earned afresh.

“If President Tinubu is to secure an overwhelming victory in Ekiti in 2027, the work must begin now through genuine grassroots mobilisation and meaningful engagement with the people,” he said.

He said his tactical support for Tinubu does not mean he has abandoned the PDP.