Ekiti 2026: Federal High Court Nullifies PDP Governorship Primary, Orders Rerun

A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti has set aside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary conducted in Ekiti State ahead of the 2026 election.

The primary, held on November 8, 2024, produced Dr Wole Oluyede as winner, defeating Dr Funso Ayeni and Mrs Funmilayo Ogun. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) excluded Oluyede and his running mate, Deji Ogunsakin, from the provisional list of candidates released on December 29, 2025, ahead of the June 20 governorship election.

Dr Ayeni challenged the outcome at the Federal High Court through his lawyer, Mr Kola Kolade (SAN), arguing that the exercise violated the PDP constitution, party guidelines, and the Electoral Act. He contended that the party failed to submit the original and verified list of statutory and ad hoc delegates used for the primary, describing the lapse as a fundamental procedural defect.

In a judgment delivered on Tuesday in suit number FHC/AD/CS/29/2025, Justice Babs Kuewumi ruled that the primary election did not comply with the relevant legal and party provisions. The court consequently nullified the exercise.

Justice Kuewumi ordered the PDP, in collaboration with INEC, to conduct a fresh governorship primary in line with the law and party guidelines. The court also directed that all duly qualified aspirants be allowed to participate in the rerun.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Dr Oluyede, Mr Owoseni Ajayi, said his client was dissatisfied with the ruling and had commenced the appeal process, including filing an application for a stay of execution.