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INEC’s Ekiti Governorship List Not Final, PDP Says

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the list of governorship candidates for the 2026 Ekiti State election released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not final.

In a statement on Sunday, the party explained that the name of its candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede, was not included in the provisional list earlier released by INEC in December 2025, despite the party conducting its governorship primary election on November 8, 2025.

According to the PDP, INEC monitored and supervised the primary election and also issued an affidavit confirming Dr. Oluyede’s candidature. Following the omission of his name, the party said it approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Dr. Oluyede filed a suit seeking an order of mandamus to compel INEC to publish his name as the PDP’s governorship candidate.

The party disclosed that the case is scheduled to be heard this week in Abuja and expressed confidence that the court will rule in its favour.

The statement also referred to an earlier judgment by the Federal High Court 1 in Ado-Ekiti on January 13, which ordered a fresh primary election following a suit filed by one of the aspirants, Mr. Funsho Ayeni. The PDP said it has filed a stay of execution of that judgment and has also appealed at the Court of Appeal, Ado-Ekiti Division.

The party maintained that the courts have the power to direct INEC on such matters and urged its members and the general public in Ekiti State to remain calm as the legal processes continue.

The statement was signed by Gani Salau, Special Adviser on Media to Dr. Wole Oluyede, and dated January 19, 2026.