The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Tuesday led the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign train across communities in Ekiti Central Senatorial District ahead of the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Bamidele, who also serves as Chairman of the APC Governorship Electioneering Campaign Council, joined Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and other party leaders in canvassing support for the governor’s re-election across the five local government areas in the district.

The campaign train visited several towns including Efon Alaaye, Ijero and Ekiti West Local Government Areas, where large crowds of APC supporters turned out to welcome the governor and members of the campaign council.

Speaking during the rallies, Senator Bamidele commended party faithful for their loyalty and commitment to the APC, noting that many supporters came out in large numbers despite their personal and professional engagements.

He expressed appreciation to party members and residents for the warm reception accorded to Governor Oyebanji and other APC leaders during the campaign tour.

The Senate Leader also highlighted what he described as the governor’s impressive achievements in infrastructure development, agriculture, healthcare, education and social welfare, saying the administration’s performance justifies the call for another term in office.

According to him, the re-election of Governor Oyebanji would further accelerate development across Ekiti State and strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Bamidele urged residents of the state to continue supporting the APC administration, assuring them of more democratic dividends if the governor secures a second term in office.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the formation of a caretaker committee within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by supporters of Tanimu Turaki, describing the move as fraudulent and misleading.

Speaking on Tuesday, Wike warned Nigerians not to be deceived by what he called an attempt to create confusion within the party. He insisted that there is no leadership crisis in the PDP and maintained that the party operates from its officially recognized national secretariat at Wadata House in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

According to Wike, the Turaki-led group has no legal backing to set up a parallel leadership or sell nomination forms. He argued that such actions amount to fraud, especially as the group has not overturned existing court judgments.

“You cannot claim to be a party and fail to identify a legitimate national secretariat,” Wike said. “If you are selling forms, where will they be submitted? That is clear deception.”

The minister also stated that the recent PDP convention held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium remains the only valid convention of the party. He noted that the event was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and produced the current national leadership.

Meanwhile, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Adolphus Wabara, had earlier announced the appointment of a 13-member interim National Working Committee headed by Turaki. The group said its decision followed a Supreme Court ruling that nullified the Ibadan convention, which it claims created a leadership vacuum in the party.

The caretaker committee was inaugurated after a meeting held at the Yar’Adua Centre, attended by several prominent party figures. These include Seyi Makinde, former Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu, elder statesman Jerry Gana, and former minister Zainab Maina.

The Turaki-led faction insists that the Abuja convention which produced the current PDP leadership is invalid. However, Wike and his allies continue to reject this position, maintaining that there is no vacancy in the party’s leadership.

Seventeen members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives have defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in what signals a widening wave of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defection notices were formally announced during Tuesday’s plenary session by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

The affected lawmakers represent constituencies across several states including Kano, Anambra, Lagos, Edo, and Rivers. Those who moved to the NDC include Yusuf Datti (Kano), Harris Okonkwo (Anambra), Sani Adamu (Kano), Thaddeus Attah (Lagos), George Ozodinobi, Lilian Obiageli (Anambra), Oluwaseyi Sowunmi (Lagos), Peter Anekwe (Anambra), Zakari Mukhtari (Kano), George Olawande (Lagos), Murphy Omroruyi (Edo), Umezuruike Manuchim (Rivers), Emeka Idu (Anambra), Jese Onuakalusi (Lagos), Ifeanyi Uzokwe (Anambra), Afam Ogene (Anambra), and Kamilu Ado (Kano).

In a related development, Leke Abejide, who represents Yagba federal constituency in Kogi State, defected from the ADC to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers cited internal leadership disputes and ongoing legal challenges within their former parties as the main reasons for their decision to switch allegiance.

The latest defections come amid increasing political movements within the National Assembly, as politicians reposition themselves ahead of the next general elections.

This development follows the recent defection of prominent political figures such as Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who both moved from the ADC to the NDC earlier this week and encouraged their supporters nationwide to join the party.

Political analysts say the growing number of defections could significantly reshape party strength and alliances in the lead-up to 2027.