The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his deputy were conspicuously absent as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the provisional list of party candidates ahead of the election.

INEC on Monday posted the list of candidates from 12 political parties vying for the state’s top job at its office on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list shows that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his running mate.

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Other candidates include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, with Omoyemi Olaleye as deputy; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, with Itunu Ibitoye as running mate.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress is presenting Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, while the Action Peoples Party has Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi on its ticket.

The PDP’s absence may not be unconnected with the leadership crisis currently rocking the party at the national level.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, dismissed any possibility of dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Wike, however, disclosed that a lot of PDP leaders will join him if he decides to defect to the APC.

The Minister, who spoke during his media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said: “Today, if I say that I want to go to APC that will be the end of even talking about it.

“You will see other states, joining, leaders in other states joining, I’m not a leader that’s concentrated in the state. No.

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“If today I say gentlemen, we have had enough of PDP we have to move, watch those who will decamp in Benue, Plateau, Abia, Edo.”

The Minister also declared that he is still a member of the PDP, hence Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is unhappy.

“I’m a member of the PDP, that’s why I’m still there and Seyi is not happy. That’s not correct, that you are a member of the assembly or council Chairman or National Assembly does not mean that there is no other person,” he added.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has suggested that the political rivalry between him and Governor Siminalyi Fubara of Rivers State is far from over.

Wike stated that “all can never be well in politics,” noting that a recent comment by Fubara may indicate ongoing tension between them.

The Minister made the remarks on Monday while fielding questions during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Recall that Fubara, while declaring for the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that some people were still doing “corner, corner” while supporting President Bola Tinubu.

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The governor appeared to be referring to the FCT Minister, who has remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite working under the ruling APC.

Responding to questions about the matter, Wike said he was not aware of anyone “following President Tinubu and doing ‘corner, corner’.”

He insisted that his support for Tinubu is open and well known to all Nigerians, denying that he is acting secretly.

Wike said: “I don’t know who is following Tinubu and doing ‘corner, corner.’ How could that be when the whole of Nigeria knows that I have stated openly that this is what I will do? Even when governors of the PDP accused me of working for Tinubu, my position was clear.

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“If I were doing ‘corner, corner,’ so many people would not have supported Tinubu. The council chairmen wouldn’t have gone.

“I’ve always stated this: why most people don’t trust politicians is that they don’t keep their word, which is very wrong. I don’t want to be that kind of politician. I want to be a politician that, once I say something, you can rely on it. Everybody knows that once I state what I will do, I will do it.

“No, no, it’s not well. It’s not about everything being well; in politics, all can never be well.

“People are always economical with the truth. The governor cannot claim that I have not intervened between him, the speaker, and the leadership of the House. He cannot say I have not engaged with the elders, even when he was present.

“So, regarding this issue of ‘corner, corner’, who? Everybody knows my stand. Everybody knows that my position is not hidden.”