The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has officially validated the list of local government candidates provided by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction aligned with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. This approval covers candidates running for both chairmanship and councillorship positions in the elections set for December 29, 2026.
This move mirrors a recent precedent set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has been engaging with the faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed regarding the 2027 general elections. The submission was formalised in a July 30, 2026, letter from Professor Rahman Akinoso, the Oyo PDP chairman. In the correspondence, Akinoso asserted that the party’s primary elections were held in full compliance with established guidelines.
While OYSIEC was originally formed under the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, this decision is interpreted as a boost for the Wike-supported group and a setback for the rival faction led by Tanimu Turaki. With their candidate list confirmed, the Wike-backed faction is prepared to participate in races across all 33 local government areas in Oyo State.
