Ekiti Guber 2026: PDP, SDP Missing as INEC Releases Final List of Candidates, Deputies
- INEC has released the final list of candidates for the June 20 Ekiti governorship election, excluding the PDP and SDP candidates and their running mates
- The electoral body cited unresolved leadership crises and ongoing court cases within the parties as the reason for the omission
- However, the PDP and SDP have rejected the decision and vowed to pursue legal action to compel INEC to include their candidates in the election
Ekiti state - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates and their running mates for the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State.
The list, published on Monday, January 19, 2026, confirmed that the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) were excluded from the race.
Source: Twitter
INEC noted that, aside from the Young Peoples Party (YPP), there were no major changes from the provisional list earlier released on December 29, 2025.
Unlike other parties, the Young People's Party (YPP) made changes to its ticket.
The party replaced its former candidate, Owoola Daramola, and running mate, Opeyemi Adeyemo, with Osinkolu Ayodele as governorship candidate and Arowolo Olusesan as deputy.
Ekiti guber: PDP, SDP candidates missing
A check at the INEC office in Ado-Ekiti showed that the names of the PDP governorship candidate, Wole Oluyede, and his running mate were absent from the final list.
Also missing were the names of the SDP candidate, David Bankole, and his deputy.
INEC sources, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on condition of anonymity, attributed the PDP’s exclusion to the party’s unresolved national leadership crisis, which has led to multiple court cases and rival factions claiming control of the party.
INEC had earlier cited court judgments as the reason for omitting Oluyede’s name from the provisional list.
Ekiti guber: PDP candidate insists he'll contest
Despite his exclusion, Oluyede insisted that he remains the PDP’s lawful candidate and will participate in the election.
In a statement issued on Monday, January 19, 2026, by his spokesperson, Oluyede disclosed that he has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order of mandamus to compel INEC to publish his name.
“The judiciary is the last hope of the common man. We believe the court will compel INEC to publish the name of Dr Wole Oluyede as the duly elected PDP candidate,” the statement said.
He urged PDP members and Ekiti residents to remain calm, expressing confidence that the party would secure a favourable court ruling.
Ekiti guber: PDP, SDP vow legal action
Reacting to the development, PDP spokesperson Gani Salau said the party has filed two court cases—one seeking a stay of execution against the order for fresh primaries, and another requesting INEC to publish Oluyede’s name.
Source: Twitter
Similarly, SDP State Chairman Ayodele Bamikole said the party would pursue all legal options to ensure its candidate is reinstated on the list.
Full list of candidates cleared by INEC
INEC confirmed candidates from other political parties, including:
- APC: Biodun Oyebanji / Monisade Afuye
- Labour Party: Oyebanji Olajuyin / Ayokunle Okumade
- Accord Party: Opeyemi Falegan / Omoyemi Olaleye
- ADC: Oluwadare Bejide / Paul Olowoyeye
- NNPP: Blessing Abegunde / Francis Ajayi
- PRP: Olaniyi Ayodele / Modupe Adebiyi
- YPP: Osinkolu Ayodele / Arowolo Olusesan
- ZLP: Victor Adetunji / Adesina Oyeniyi
PDP announces Ekiti governorship primary winner
Legit.ng earlier reported that Dr Wole Oluyede won the PDP governorship primary in Ekiti after polling 279 votes to defeat the closest rival, Funsho Ayeni, who scored 239 votes.
The election, monitored by INEC officials and security agents, was described by observers as transparent, peaceful, and credible.
Oluyede promises inclusive leadership and unity, saying there are “no losers, only partners in progress” within the PDP.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
