INEC Publishes Ekiti Governorship Candidates PDP Flagbearer Missing

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Preparations for the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State have taken a significant turn following the publication of the official list of approved candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The electoral commission publicly displayed the list at its state office in Ado-Ekiti on Monday as part of its statutory process ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election.

According to the document released by INEC, a total of twelve political parties successfully submitted candidates and running mates who were cleared to participate in the election. However, one of Nigeria’s major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was noticeably absent from the roster.

The omission has drawn attention because the PDP had earlier conducted a primary election that produced Wole Oluyede as its flagbearer. Despite winning the party’s internal contest, his name did not appear on the electoral body’s list of cleared candidates.

Candidates Recognised for the Election

INEC’s publication confirms candidates from several political platforms who will contest the governorship seat. The names include representatives from a wide range of parties, reflecting the competitive nature of the upcoming election.

Among those recognised are:

Biodun Oyebanji representing the All Progressives Congress
Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party
Akande Oluwasegun from the African Action Congress
Ayodeji Ojo representing the Action Democratic Party

Other candidates on the list include figures from smaller parties such as the African Democratic Congress, Action People’s Party, Labour Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, People’s Redemption Party, Young Progressive Party, Allied People’s Movement and the Zenith Labour Party.

PDP Primary That Produced Oluyede

Before the release of the INEC list, the PDP had organised a primary election in November where Oluyede secured victory. During the contest, he reportedly polled 279 votes, edging past his closest rival, Funso Ayeni, who scored 239 votes.

The exercise was conducted by the party’s national leadership and received political backing from Seyi Makinde.

Party Crisis Behind the Controversy

The PDP has recently been facing internal divisions that have complicated its political activities. The party is currently split into two influential camps.

One faction is associated with governors including Makinde and Bala Mohammed, while another bloc aligns with Nyesom Wike.

These disagreements have affected leadership recognition within the party, leading to disputes over which officials should be acknowledged by electoral authorities.

INEC’s Position on PDP Leadership Dispute

The controversy deepened after INEC declined to recognise a leadership structure backed by one of the PDP factions. The commission stated that it could not update its official records concerning the party’s national leadership at this time.

The electoral body explained that multiple court rulings and unresolved legal cases tied to the party’s national convention held in Ibadan remain pending.

Until those legal disputes are concluded, INEC indicated it would maintain the existing records already in its system.

Commentary and Analysis

The absence of the PDP candidate from the list may have significant political implications for the Ekiti governorship race. As one of Nigeria’s major opposition parties, the PDP traditionally plays a key role in state elections.

If the internal disputes within the party remain unresolved, the situation could weaken its electoral competitiveness in Ekiti. Political analysts believe that prolonged leadership crises often translate into organisational confusion during elections.

For INEC, the development underscores the importance of legal clarity when dealing with party structures. Electoral bodies are often required to rely strictly on court decisions and officially recognised leadership records to determine which candidates are validly nominated.

As the June 2026 election approaches, observers will be watching closely to see whether the PDP resolves its internal crisis quickly enough to secure representation on the ballot.