….Says Odeyemi, Faseyi and Their Allies Cannot Dictate Oluyede’s Political Choices; Challenges Them to Account for Election Resources
A group of concerned members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State has urged the leadership and members of the party to recognise and appreciate the sacrifices made by its 2026 governorship candidate, Dr Oluwole Oluyede, to keep the party politically relevant in the state.
The group, in a statement signed by Hon Bayo Abiodun Lawal, said Oluyede accepted the responsibility of contesting the June 20, 2026 governorship election on the platform of the PDP at a difficult period for the party and committed substantial personal resources, time and energy to the campaign.
It said Oluyede’s decision to carry the party’s flag when many political actors had allegedly lost confidence in the PDP demonstrated his commitment to keeping the party relevant in Ekiti politics.
The group said the PDP in Ekiti owed Oluyede a debt of gratitude for standing with the party when many had already begun to doubt its ability to remain competitive.
The statement read in part, “Ekiti PDP should be grateful to Dr Oluyede. At a time when many people were already writing the obituary of the PDP in Ekiti, Oluyede stood up, accepted the party’s ticket and committed his resources, energy and political reputation to the election.
“He did not run away from the PDP when the party needed someone to carry its flag. He stood and fought for the party. Whatever anybody may say today, the fact remains that the PDP is still standing in Ekiti partly because of the sacrifices made by Dr Oluyede.”
The group also defended Oluyede’s decision to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election, describing it as his legitimate political choice.
It said no individual or faction within the PDP had the authority to dictate the political choices of other members of the party.
According to the group, Oluyede had openly declared his political position and should be allowed to exercise his right to support any candidate or political direction consistent with his convictions.
“Oluyede has earned the right to make his political decision. He has sacrificed for the PDP, contested under its platform and spent his personal resources to keep the party alive.
“Those who disagree with him are free to express their disagreement, but they cannot dictate to him who he should support or pretend that they alone possess the right to determine the political choices of every PDP member in Ekiti,” the group stated.
The group alleged that some of the criticisms directed at Oluyede were connected to concerns over his growing influence among younger members and grassroots supporters of the party.
It specifically mentioned the political tendency associated with Rt Hon Tunji Odeyemi and Senator Duro Faseyi, alleging that Oluyede’s emergence as a strong voice within the party had unsettled some established political interests.
The group, however, said political influence should be determined by genuine grassroots engagement, service to party members and the ability to connect with the people rather than claims of ownership or control of the party.
“They know that the political landscape has changed. They know that Oluyede has become a major voice within the PDP because of the sacrifices he made during the election.
“The PDP belongs to all its members. No individual owns the party, and nobody should claim the authority to determine the political choices of other members.
“If anybody believes they have stronger grassroots support, let them demonstrate it through genuine engagement with party members across the state,” it said.
The group also challenged the Odeyemi group to account for resources allegedly received from the Oluyede campaign during the 2026 governorship election.
It alleged that money and other resources were made available for mobilisation and for the benefit of party members and grassroots structures, but questioned whether all such resources reached the people for whom they were intended.
The group said the appropriate response to the allegation was transparency and accountability.
“If resources were received, let them tell the party members how much was received, what it was meant for, who received it and how it was distributed.
“If the allegation is untrue, let them come forward and say so. But nobody should attack Dr Oluyede while refusing to answer legitimate questions concerning resources allegedly entrusted to them during the election,” it stated.
The group also called for an honest assessment of the PDP’s performance in the 2026 governorship election, particularly the role allegedly played by former Governor Ayodele Fayose.
It alleged that Fayose supported the APC during the election despite his long association with the PDP and subsequently made statements suggesting that the PDP had been defeated in the state.
The group said such conduct should be remembered when assessing the circumstances under which Oluyede accepted the responsibility of carrying the PDP’s flag.
“While some people were celebrating that they had killed the PDP in Ekiti, Dr Oluyede was spending his own money to keep the party alive and contest an election under its platform.
“Those are the facts that the party must not forget.
“Today, the PDP still has a voice in Ekiti. It still has members, structures and political relevance. Oluyede deserves recognition for standing up when others had abandoned the party,” the group stated.
The group stressed that its criticism of Fayose was not connected to the current debate over President Tinubu, noting that both Fayose and Oluyede had now publicly indicated support for the President’s re-election.
Rather, it said, the issue was Fayose’s alleged conduct during the 2026 Ekiti governorship election and his subsequent statements concerning the PDP.
The group further said there was no basis for anyone to dictate Oluyede’s political choices, stressing that political disagreement was normal in a democratic environment.
It said Oluyede, having contested the governorship election on the PDP platform and made significant sacrifices for the party, was entitled to express his political views and make decisions based on his convictions.
“Dr Oluyede is a responsible adult and an experienced politician who understands his political choices. Nobody can dictate to him who he should support or what political position he should take.
“People are free to disagree with him, but disagreement should not be presented as though one individual or faction has the exclusive right to speak for the entire PDP in Ekiti.
“The PDP belongs to all its members. No individual owns the party, and nobody can claim the authority to determine the political choices of every member,” the group stated.
The group said the development also presented an opportunity for a new generation of leaders to emerge within the Ekiti PDP.
It said the party needed leaders who would prioritise the interests of ordinary members, build genuine grassroots structures and accept responsibility when the party was facing difficult political circumstances.
“The time has come for a new generation of leadership in Ekiti PDP.
“We need leaders who will stand with the party when it is difficult, not only appear when there are political benefits to be shared.
“Dr Oluyede stood when the PDP needed somebody to stand. He accepted the ticket, financed the campaign and carried the burden of the election. The party should not forget that sacrifice.”
The group urged the PDP National Working Committee to protect the interests of members who had made genuine sacrifices for the party and ensure that the party remained open to diverse political opinions.
It said the future of the Ekiti PDP should be built around loyalty, sacrifice, accountability, grassroots support and a new generation of leadership.
“Oluyede deserves appreciation, not condemnation.
“He stood for the PDP when others abandoned it. He invested his resources when others were already declaring the party dead. He carried the party’s flag and fought for its survival.
“Whatever political decision he makes today, the PDP in Ekiti should never forget the sacrifice he made to keep the party standing,” the group stated.
The group also urged Governor Seyi Makinde to exercise caution and not be misled by individuals claiming to control the PDP structure in Ekiti State or possess the capacity to deliver its members to the Allied Peoples Movement.
It said the political actors making such claims did not represent the majority of genuine PDP members in the state and challenged them to demonstrate the structures and grassroots support they claimed to control across the 16 local government areas.
“Governor Makinde should not be deceived by political actors making claims they cannot substantiate. They do not own the PDP membership in Ekiti.
“Oluyede’s decision to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election is his legitimate political choice and should not be interpreted as abandoning the PDP. His position is also consistent with the position of recognised PDP stakeholders at the national level supporting the President.
“The PDP belongs to its members, not to any faction or individual. Those claiming to control the party should prove their grassroots strength rather than rely on press statements,” the group stated.
