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Ekiti PDP governorship primary nullified over non-compliance with party constitution and Electoral Act
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Federal High Court orders fresh PDP primary, mandates INEC monitoring ahead of June 20, 2026 poll
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Delegates’ list controversy central to ruling, appeal already filed by declared winner
A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has nullified the governorship primary election conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in preparation for the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
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The court voided the primary held on November 8, 2025, in which Dr Wole Oluyede emerged as the PDP candidate after defeating Dr Funso Ayeni and Mrs Funmilayo Ogun.
The exercise had been mired in controversy after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declined to recognise Oluyede and his running mate in the list of candidates released on December 29, 2025.
One of the aspirants, Dr Ayeni, had approached the court, challenging the validity of the primary on grounds of non-compliance with the PDP constitution and its electoral guidelines. He argued that the party failed to present an authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates used for the election, describing the omission as a fundamental breach of the law.
Delivering judgment in suit number FHC/AD/CS/29/2025, Justice Babs Kuewumi held that the conduct of the primary violated the Electoral Act and the PDP’s internal rules. The judge consequently ordered the party to conduct a fresh governorship primary election in strict compliance with the law, with INEC mandated to monitor the process.
The court further directed that all qualified aspirants must be allowed to participate in the new primary to guarantee transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Dr Oluyede, Owoseni Ajayi, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, confirming that an appeal had been filed alongside an application seeking a stay of execution.
