The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the official list of candidates for the June 20, 2026, Ekiti State governorship election, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conspicuously missing from the list.
The list, displayed at INEC’s state headquarters in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, features governorship candidates and their running mates from 12 political parties cleared to contest the poll.
Among those listed are Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party; Akande Oluwasegun (African Action Congress); Ayodeji Ojo (Action Democratic Party); Oluwadare Bejide (African Democratic Congress); incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress; and Bidemi Awogbemi of the Action People’s Party.
Also included are Joseph Anifowose (Allied People’s Movement), Oyebanji Olajuyin (Labour Party), Blessing Abegunde (New Nigeria People Party), Olaniyi Ayodele (People’s Redemption Party), Owoola Daramola (Young Progressive Party), and Victor Adetunji (Zenith Labour Party).
Notably absent, however, is Wole Oluyede, the PDP’s governorship candidate.
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Oluyede, a medical professional, emerged as the party’s flagbearer in November after polling 279 votes to edge out his closest rival, Funso Ayeni, who scored 239 votes in the primary organised by the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
INEC’s decision is linked to the protracted leadership crisis within the PDP, which has split the party into rival factions.
One faction is supported by Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, while the other is aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Last week, the electoral umpire declined to recognise the PDP NWC chaired by Kabiru Turaki, citing subsisting court rulings.
INEC said it would not amend its records to reflect any changes in the party’s national leadership until pending legal disputes arising from the party’s November national convention in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, are resolved.
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