A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship primary election in Ekiti State, ruling that the process was flawed and ordering a fresh primary to be conducted in compliance with the law ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Babs Kuewumi upheld a petition filed by governorship aspirant Prince Funso Ayeni, who challenged the validity of the PDP primary that produced Dr. Wole Oluyede as the party’s candidate. Ayeni had argued that the primary was conducted without presenting the original and authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates, a requirement both under the Electoral Act and the PDP’s internal guidelines, thus compromising the integrity of the exercise.
In his ruling, Justice Kuewumi described the failure to produce the certified delegate lists as a “clear violation” of both the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, saying that the omission fundamentally undermined transparency, fairness and internal democracy in the selection process. The judge consequently voided the primary result.
The court’s order mandates that the PDP, working in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), must conduct a fresh governorship primary that strictly adheres to legal standards and party regulations. The judge emphasised that all eligible aspirants must be allowed to participate in the rerun to ensure fairness and compliance.
Dr. Wole Oluyede had previously been declared the PDP flagbearer after the November 8, 2025 primary, securing 279 votes, according to earlier reports. However, his victory was challenged by Ayeni, who alleged irregularities including the non-presentation of proper delegate documentation — a complaint now upheld by the court.
Reacting to the ruling, the PDP’s South-West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Sanya Atofarati, said the party would consider its legal options, including an appeal against the judgment. Atofarati insisted that the party remains committed to its preparations for the 2026 governorship election and assured supporters that mobilisation and campaign activities would continue in the meantime.
The nullification of the primary is likely to reshape the political landscape in Ekiti State as the PDP returns to the drawing board to organise a new and legally compliant nomination process. Observers say the development also highlights the increasing role of judicial oversight in electoral matters, particularly in ensuring that internal party contests reflect procedural fairness and respect for electoral law.
The fresh primary order comes at a critical moment, as political parties intensify their preparations for the 2026 governorship election, with stakeholders closely watching how judicial decisions will impact candidate selections, alliances and overall election readiness in key states like Ekiti.
