Court Mandates INEC To Acknowledge PDP Candidate Oluyede For Ekiti Governorship Election

A Federal High Court has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to acknowledge and list Oluwole Oluyede as the candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2026 Ekiti governorship election.

Justice Mohammed Umar, presiding over the Federal High Court in Abuja, issued the order on Friday, instructing INEC to incorporate both the name and logo of the PDP on the ballot paper for the upcoming election.

In a statement, the PDP expressed that this ruling exemplifies justice for their gubernatorial candidate, Oluyede.

The ruling was given during the judgement for a lawsuit brought forth by the PDP alongside Oluyede as the plaintiffs. Justice Umar stated that the plaintiffs had valid legal grounds and were justified in their demands. He reaffirmed that the matter at hand did not pertain to the validity of the party's national leadership.

The lawsuit, recorded as FHC/ABJ/CS/40/2026, listed INEC as the sole respondent. The plaintiffs raised six inquiries regarding whether it was lawful for INEC to publish Oluyede's name among other candidates given the stipulations of the Electoral Act, 2022.

They contended that INEC was obligated to recognize Oluyede's candidacy since it had monitored and certified the party's primary elections conducted on November 8 and 9, 2025, which confirmed Oluyede as the candidate.

In his ruling, Justice Umar clarified that the contention was not whether INEC could refuse the candidacy of a candidate who emerged from a legitimate primary.

He noted, "It has been established by the apex court that the defendant cannot reject nominations from political parties based on qualifications."

Subsequently, the court instructed the commission to ensure Oluyede’s name appeared as the PDP governorship candidate in the upcoming poll.

Justice Umar further granted a perpetual injunction preventing INEC from rejecting or ignoring the nomination of Oluyede in relation to the governing election.

Oluyede had previously been awarded a certificate of return by PDP National Chairman Kabiru Turaki, affirming his status as the party's candidate.

However, the PDP stated that INEC, under the leadership of Prof. Joash Amupitan, had unlawfully excluded Oluyede's name from the candidate list, prompting both the candidate and the party to seek redress in court.

In a statement, PDP National Publicity Secretary Ini Emeombong remarked that the Federal High Court's ruling had validated the claims made by Oluyede and the PDP. He highlighted the court's condemnation of Oluyede's exclusion and directed INEC to promptly recognize him and include his name and party logo on the ballot.

Emeombong also indicated that the court's decision included an injunction against further rejection of Oluyede as the candidate in the electoral processes leading to the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.

Oluyede reiterated that INEC's exclusion of his candidacy was a significant violation of electoral norms.

The PDP spokesperson urged INEC to adhere strictly to the law and avoid any biases that could undermine democracy, recalling the troubling history of previous electoral commissions in Nigeria.

As the party looks ahead, Emeombong encouraged members to begin campaign efforts, rallying support for Oluyede's bid as a transformational leader in the Ekiti gubernatorial election.