Oyo electoral body accepts Wike-backed PDP candidates for council polls

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has accepted the list of candidates submitted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for the upcoming local government elections.

The commission received the names of the party’s chairmanship and councillorship candidates for the December 29, 2026, council elections.

The development follows a similar decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has been dealing with the National Working Committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed in preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The Oyo PDP faction submitted its candidates’ list to OYSIEC in a letter dated July 30, 2026.

The letter, signed by the state chairman of the party, Professor Rahman Akinoso, was addressed to the chairman of OYSIEC and formally informed the commission that the PDP would take part in the council elections.

“Find the attached list of our candidates for the forthcoming Oyo State Local Government election. The primaries to elect the candidates were peacefully conducted in line with rules and regulation guiding the exercise,” the letter stated.

OYSIEC was established by Governor Seyi Makinde.

The commission’s acceptance of the list is being viewed as support for the position already taken by INEC in the ongoing PDP leadership dispute.

The move also appears to weaken the position of the rival PDP faction linked to Governor Makinde and led by Tanimu Turaki.

With the candidates’ list now accepted, the Wike-backed PDP is set to contest the local government elections across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas.

The Oyo State local government elections are scheduled for December 29, 2026.