Ekiti Guber Poll: Court orders INEC to recognize PDP candidate Oluyede

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the IndependentNational Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise Dr. Oluwole Oluyede as thegovernorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for thegovernorship election in Ekiti State. In a judgment delivered by Justice Umar, the court grantedall the reliefs sought by Oluyede and the PDP in suit numberedFHC/ABJ/CS/40/2026, filed against INEC. The court criticised the electoral body for excludingOluyede from the list of candidates for the forthcoming Ekiti governorshipelection and directed the Commission to immediately recognise him as the PDPcandidate. Justice Umar further ordered INEC to include Oluyede’s nameand the PDP logo on the ballot for the election. The court also issued aperpetual injunction restraining the Commission from rejecting or excluding himfrom any activities related to the governorship poll. Oluyede had earlier been presented with a certificate ofreturn by the National Chairman of the PDP, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, confirming himas the party’s flagbearer for the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State. However, the party said INEC, under the leadership of itschairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, refused to include Oluyede’s name on thelist of candidates, prompting the candidate and the PDP to challenge thedecision in court. Reacting to the judgment, the PDP described the ruling as avictory for justice and democracy. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary,Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party urged INEC to operate strictly within the lawand avoid actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democraticsystem. The PDP also called on its members in Ekiti State tointensify their campaigns ahead of the governorship election, expressingconfidence in victory with Oluyede as its candidate.

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