PDP Faces Setback as INEC Omits Its Candidates in Ekiti Governorship List

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the provisional list of candidates for the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, but the candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was absent from the compilation released on Monday at the electoral body’s headquarters in Ado-Ekiti.

Among the names displayed were contenders from 12 political parties, including the incumbent governor from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and nominees of several smaller parties.

Dr. Wole Oluyede, who won the PDP’s nomination in a party primary earlier this year, was expected to feature on the list alongside his running mate. However, their particulars were not included in the records posted by INEC for the upcoming poll.

The omission of the PDP’s candidates reflects unresolved legal and organisational disputes within the party’s national leadership.

INEC officials have indicated that the commission will not recognise or register candidates from the PDP until the leadership crisis (which has produced competing factions and multiple court cases) is conclusively determined through the judicial process or by the party settling its internal differences in accordance with electoral requirements.

The exclusion has heightened political discussions in Ekiti, given the PDP’s historical presence in the state’s politics and the significance of competitive participation in the governorship race.