Ekiti 2026: PDP leaders vow to overturn INEC exclusion of Oluyede

Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State on Friday said the Independent National Electoral Commission’s exclusion of the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, from the list of candidates for the June 20 governorship election would not stand.

The party leaders expressed confidence that Oluyede would contest the election and deliver victory for the PDP in Ekiti State.

They spoke at Igede Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area during a meeting of PDP leaders from across the state with party members from the three political wards in the community.

A former Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, Toba Adaramola, said, “Oluyede, being a formidable candidate, is the reason why you heard recently that his name was missing at the INEC.

Don’t worry, the situation is under control. I can assure you, and you can take it to the bank, Dr Wole Oluyede is our candidate for the June 20, 2026, gubernatorial election.”

Adaramola assured party leaders of massive votes from the area for Oluyede on June 20, adding, “You know Igede Ekiti, having three political wards, is primarily a PDP town. At the appropriate time, we are going to deliver the town to the party as usual because Oluyede is the most credible alternative needed in Ekiti State.”

The former council chairman said the PDP, during his tenure, delivered unprecedented democratic dividends to the community, adding, “We know the difference when we compare the present All Progressives Congress government with that of our party.

We need real development in our town. We are tired of the present insensitivity to the needs of our people. Something has to be done, and the solution is Dr Wole Oluyede.”

A former PDP state chairman and ex-South-West zonal chairman of the party, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, urged members not to be discouraged.

“Do not relent nor be distracted by the present exclusion of Dr Oluyede’s name from the list of candidates for the 2026 election. By God’s grace, our party and candidate, Oluyede, will be the next landlord of the Government House in Ekiti State,” Ogundipe said.

He assured party faithful that the needs of the people of Igede would be fully attended to when the PDP returned to power, while appreciating members for the large turnout

Another party chieftain, Elder Martins Ibikunle, lauded Igede Ekiti leaders for being the first to organise an open meeting to mobilise support for the PDP and its candidate after the primary election.

Also speaking, the spokesperson for the Wole Oluyede Campaign Organisation, Gani Salau, urged supporters to “remain calm and have it at the back of your minds that Dr Oluyede is the party’s candidate despite efforts of detractors to remove his name. His name will be on the list, and he will emerge as the next governor of Ekiti State.”

Salau commended the people of Igede Ekiti for turning out in large numbers to identify with the PDP and Oluyede and urged them to sustain the mobilisation drive.

Recall that Oluyede, the PDP governorship flagbearer, had on Thursday faulted the exclusion of his name from the list of candidates released by INEC on Tuesday.

At a press briefing in Ikere Ekiti, Oluyede said INEC lacked the power to exclude his name, having duly emerged as the party’s candidate in a primary election monitored by the electoral body. He said he would take appropriate action after necessary consultations, including with INEC.

INEC, in a list containing the names of political parties and candidates for the Ekiti governorship election, excluded the PDP and its candidate.

The commission fixed June 20 for the Ekiti governorship election and stipulated that party primaries to select candidates should be conducted between October 20 and November 10, 2025.

In line with the guidelines, 16 political parties, including the PDP, conducted their primaries and produced candidates for the election.

According to INEC, the personal particulars of candidates were to be published on December 29, while the deadline for the withdrawal and replacement of candidates by political parties would lapse on January 12, 2026.

The electoral body also stated that the final list of nominated candidates for the election would be published on January 19, 2026.

Culled from punch