Tinubu’s 2027 re-election not guaranteed, says Ekiti PDP candidate

By Lawrence Agbo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2026 Ekiti State election, Oluwole Oluyede, has said President Bola Tinubu cannot assume victory in the 2027 presidential election based on the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s success in the state’s governorship poll.

Oluyede, who finished second in the June 20 election, argued that the governorship result should not be mistaken for an indication that the APC has an unshakable grip on Ekiti politics. He maintained that the 2027 presidential race would attract a larger voter turnout and present a more competitive political contest.

According to him, the ruling party must continue engaging voters at the grassroots rather than relying on its recent electoral victory.

“Every election must be fought afresh. Every vote must be earned afresh,” he said.

The PDP flagbearer also refuted claims that he accepted money from President Tinubu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the APC or any other individual in exchange for withdrawing his petition before the Election Petition Tribunal.

“I did not collect a kobo from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the APC or anybody else in exchange for withdrawing my case,” he said.

Oluyede explained that his decision to discontinue the case came after consultations with his family, political allies and legal advisers. He noted that the petition was initially filed to challenge alleged irregularities involving the BVAS, voter accreditation process and election results.

He also dismissed suggestions that Governor Oyebanji’s visit after the election was connected to his decision to withdraw the case, stating that their discussion centred on the release of his supporters who were arrested during the election.

Reflecting on the governorship poll, Oluyede blamed internal divisions within the PDP for undermining his campaign, describing himself as an “unsupported PDP candidate” due to the party’s factional crisis.

Despite the setback, he insisted the PDP remains a formidable opposition party in Ekiti and expressed confidence that the political dynamics of the 2027 presidential election would be markedly different from those of the governorship contest.