A Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship primaries for the 2026 Ekiti State election and ordered the party to conduct a fresh exercise.
Justice Babs Kuewumi gave the ruling on Tuesday, setting aside the primary election held on November 8, which produced Dr Wole Oluyede as the PDP’s governorship candidate.
The court action followed a suit filed by one of the aspirants in the primaries, Funso Ayeni, who challenged the credibility of the exercise. Ayeni argued that the primary failed to comply with the PDP’s constitution, party guidelines and the Electoral Act.
In the suit marked FHC/AD/CS/29/2025, Ayeni, through his lawyer, Kola Kolade (SAN), accused the party of failing to present the original and authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates used for the election. He maintained that the absence of the delegates’ list amounted to a fundamental breach of the rules guiding party primaries.
Delivering judgment, Justice Kuewumi agreed with the plaintiff, ruling that the conduct of the primaries did not meet the legal and constitutional requirements of the PDP.
“As a result, the primary election is hereby nullified,” the judge declared, ordering the PDP, in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission, to organise a fresh governorship primary in strict compliance with the law and relevant party guidelines.
The court further directed that all qualified aspirants must be allowed to participate in the new exercise to promote transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.
Reacting to the verdict, counsel to Oluyede, Owoseni Ajayi, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, stating that the judgment would be appealed. He added that his client would also apply for a stay of execution.
It will be recalled that Oluyede’s name was omitted from the list of governorship candidates for the June 20 election released by INEC on December 29. Oluyede had earlier vowed to challenge the development and pursue all legal options to ensure his name is reinstated so he can contest the election.
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