The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has rejected a parallel state congress allegedly backed by Nyesom Wike, describing it as unconstitutional and of no consequence to the party’s recognised leadership.
The disputed congress, reportedly held in Ado-Ekiti, produced Lanre Omolase as chairman following internal divisions linked to recent court rulings affecting the party’s national structure.
However, the faction loyal to Kabiru Turaki insists that Tunji Odeyemi remains the legitimate chairman, stressing that the current State Working Committee was duly elected on October 1, 2025, through a congress authorised by the party’s National Working Committee.
Odeyemi argued that the four-year mandate of the existing executives remains valid, noting that no court judgment has nullified the process that brought them into office. He maintained that the weekend congress lacks legal backing and does not affect the party’s structure in the state.
The leadership crisis follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which nullified the PDP’s Ibadan national convention and upheld the suspension of some national officers, further deepening internal divisions.
Meanwhile, the party expressed confidence ahead of the 2026 governorship election, with deputy governorship candidate Deji Ogunsakin dismissing claims of leadership change as actions by suspended members already invalidated by the courts.
