Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) exclusion of the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, from the list of candidates for the June 20, 2026 governorship election, insisting that the decision will not stand.
Party leaders expressed strong confidence that Oluyede would ultimately be cleared to contest the election and would go on to secure victory for the PDP in the state. They spoke on Friday at Igede Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area during a meeting of PDP leaders from across Ekiti State with party members drawn from the three political wards in the community.
A former Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, Mr Toba Adaramola, told party supporters that Oluyede’s political strength was responsible for the controversy surrounding his name. According to him, the situation was under control and would be resolved in the party’s favour.
“Dr Wole Oluyede is our candidate for the June 20, 2026 gubernatorial election,” Adaramola said, assuring members that the PDP would record massive votes from Igede Ekiti, a town he described as a traditional stronghold of the party. He added that Oluyede remained the most credible alternative to address the state’s challenges.
Adaramola criticised the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, arguing that the PDP had delivered more tangible democratic dividends during its time in office. “We need real development in our town. We are tired of insensitivity to the needs of our people,” he said.
Also speaking, a former PDP state chairman and ex–South-West zonal chairman of the party, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, urged party faithful not to be discouraged by INEC’s action. He expressed optimism that Oluyede would emerge as governor, describing him as the party’s rightful candidate. Ogundipe further assured residents of Igede Ekiti that their concerns would be prioritised when the PDP returned to power.
Another party leader, Elder Martins Ibikunle, praised Igede Ekiti leaders for organising what he described as the first open mobilisation meeting for the PDP and its candidate since the party’s primary election.
The spokesperson for the Wole Oluyede Campaign Organisation, Mr Gani Salau, also called for calm among supporters. He maintained that Oluyede remained the PDP’s candidate despite what he termed the efforts of detractors, expressing confidence that his name would appear on the final list released by INEC.
The development follows Oluyede’s press briefing on Thursday in Ikere Ekiti, where he faulted INEC’s decision to exclude his name from the provisional list of candidates released earlier in the week. He argued that the electoral body lacked the power to do so, having monitored the PDP primary that produced him as candidate.
INEC had fixed June 20, 2026 for the Ekiti governorship election and outlined timelines for party primaries, publication of candidates’ particulars and the release of the final list of nominated candidates on January 19, 2026.
