Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Dr Oluwole Oluyede, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the June 2026 Ekiti State election, has emerged as a prominent supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, while his recent engagements with Governor Biodun Oyebanji have added to calls for political cooperation in the state.
Oluyede’s position follows his decision to withdraw his legal challenge against Oyebanji’s victory in the Ekiti governorship election and his subsequent mobilisation efforts through the Oluyede Progressive Alliance for Renewed Hope Agenda (OPARHA).
The development has drawn attention because Oluyede contested the governorship election against Oyebanji, who secured re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oluyede backs Tinubu’s 2027 bid
In September, Oluyede said he was targeting strong support for President Tinubu in Ekiti State in the 2027 presidential election.
Punch reported on September 8 that Oluyede, who is also the convener of OPARHA, said securing 90 per cent of votes cast in Ekiti for Tinubu was achievable through aggressive grassroots mobilisation.
He called on supporters across political divides, including members of the PDP, APC and other political groups, to participate in the mobilisation effort.
The initiative represents a significant change from the June governorship contest, when Oluyede was the PDP’s principal challenger to Oyebanji.
From election opponents to political cooperation
The June 20 Ekiti governorship election produced a decisive victory for Oyebanji.
According to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes, while Oluyede secured 40,543 votes. African Democratic Congress candidate Dare Bejide received 12,872 votes. Oyebanji won across all 16 local government areas.
Following the election, Oluyede initially rejected the result and considered legal action. He subsequently filed a petition challenging Oyebanji’s victory.
However, in September, he withdrew the petition at the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. The tribunal subsequently struck out the case.
Oluyede had earlier explained that his decision to discontinue the legal challenge was connected to appeals made to him and his respect for President Tinubu.
The withdrawal removed one major legal challenge to Oyebanji’s re-election and opened another phase of political engagement between figures who had been on opposing sides of the governorship contest.
OPARHA and the 2027 mobilisation
Oluyede’s political initiative, OPARHA, was unveiled as a platform aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The Nation reported in August that a coalition involving PDP members, Accord, the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Young Progressive Party (YPP), Action Alliance (AA) and other political groups had been associated with the initiative.
The Guardian similarly reported that the alliance was formed to support Tinubu’s re-election bid and that the initiative brought together political actors beyond a single party.
Oluyede has therefore positioned his political activity around a broader coalition rather than limiting his mobilisation to PDP structures.
Oluyede praises Oyebanji’s security investment
The relationship between Oluyede and Oyebanji has also featured public acknowledgement of aspects of the governor’s administration.
On September 24, Punch reported that Oluyede praised Oyebanji for distributing 100 operational vehicles to security agencies in Ekiti State.
Oluyede described the provision of the vehicles as an investment in the state’s security architecture and said the equipment could improve the mobility and response capacity of security personnel.
The development provides another indication of the more cooperative tone that has emerged between the two politicians following the governorship election.
Oyebanji’s role in Ekiti’s 2027 political landscape
Oyebanji, who won a second term in June, remains a central political figure in Ekiti as preparations for the 2027 general elections develop.
The Ekiti State Government said on September 23 that the governor had emphasised the state’s commitment to taking President Tinubu’s re-election seriously, with traditional rulers and young people also expressing support for his administration.
The governor’s political influence in the state is reinforced by the scale of his June election victory, although voter turnout and concerns raised by observers remain important parts of the election’s broader context.
Channels Television reported that 384,940 voters were accredited, while 375,777 valid votes were recorded during the election.
What the alliance means for 2027
The emerging cooperation involving Oluyede and political actors around Oyebanji is significant because it could bring together individuals and groups that competed against one another during the 2026 governorship election.
However, the extent to which the various political groups will maintain a common position throughout the 2027 election cycle remains to be established.
The 2027 presidential election will also involve candidates and parties outside the PDP and APC, meaning political alignments in Ekiti will continue to evolve as the election approaches.
Oluyede’s 90 per cent target is his stated political objective, rather than an independently established forecast of the votes Tinubu will receive. Its eventual outcome will depend on voter participation, party organisation, candidate choices and the broader political environment during the election.
Ekiti’s changing political dynamics
The developments also highlight the fluid nature of Nigerian political alliances.
Oluyede contested against Oyebanji in June under the PDP, initially questioned the election outcome and pursued a legal challenge. He later withdrew the petition and began openly supporting Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
For Oyebanji, the 2027 election provides an opportunity to build on the political strength demonstrated by the APC during the 2026 governorship election.
For Oluyede, the mobilisation effort represents a new political direction following the governorship contest and his decision to work toward Tinubu’s re-election.
Whether this cooperation develops into a durable political alliance will become clearer as parties, political groups and grassroots organisations intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch Newspapers — Oluyede’s 90 per cent target for Tinubu in Ekiti.
- Channels Television — 2026 Ekiti governorship election results.
- Punch Newspapers — Oluyede’s withdrawal of his election petition.
- Premium Times — Oluyede’s withdrawal of the petition and political position.
- The Guardian — Ekiti PDP coalition supporting Tinubu.
- Ekiti State Government — recent statements and activities of Governor Oyebanji.
