Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have distanced themselves from the Rainbow Coalition arrangement, insisting they were never consulted and are not part of any coalition agreement.
The candidates disagreed with the position reportedly canvassed by the PDP National Secretary at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, where the arrangement was said to have been discussed.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the candidates said no meeting was held with them and no agreement was reached before the announcement.
“We were not sat down for any coalition agreement. Nobody called us before now,” one of the candidates said.
“We are not part of Rainbow Coalition. We are PDP candidates, and we will contest our elections on the platform of the PDP.”
They maintained that they remain committed to the PDP and will not step down for candidates of any other political party, stressing that the people of Oyo State know them and are ready to vote for them based on their track records.
According to them, any arrangement that requires them to sacrifice their candidacies is unacceptable.
They called on the national leadership of the party to respect the autonomy of state chapters and consult widely before entering into any political arrangement that affects candidates at the state level.
The candidates added that the PDP in Oyo State remains united, strong and focused on winning all elections in the state in 2027.
The Rainbow Coalition has continued to generate controversy within the PDP, with several state chapters, including Oyo, insisting that their candidates will contest on the party’s platform rather than withdraw for candidates from other parties.
