The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, Oluwole Oluyede, has rejected his exclusion from the list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), vowing to legally challenge the decision.
Oluyede made his position known on Wednesday during a press conference in Ikere-Ekiti, his hometown, describing INEC’s action as unconstitutional and unjustifiable.
He maintained that INEC was duly informed of the PDP governorship primary, supervised the exercise in line with the Electoral Act, and even produced an official report confirming his emergence as the party’s candidate.
According to him, the electoral body lacks the constitutional authority to determine or substitute a political party’s nominee.
“My emergence as the PDP candidate was witnessed by INEC. They supervised the primary election and wrote a report. INEC does not have the power to omit my name,” Oluyede said.
He further disclosed that there is no court order, injunction, or legal restriction barring him from contesting the election, adding that INEC had previously affirmed his candidacy in court documents.
“As far as I know, there is no court injunction or order that should preclude me from participating in the election,” he stated.
Oluyede revealed that he has commenced wide consultations, including engagements with INEC and key PDP stakeholders, to determine the next line of action, while urging his supporters to remain calm.
He also criticised what he described as deliberate attempts to prevent candidates from contesting elections, warning that such actions undermine democracy and deny voters their right to freely choose their leaders.
“Elections are meant to give people an opportunity to choose their government. It is wrong to disenfranchise voters by excluding legitimate candidates,” he said.
Reaffirming his confidence in the PDP, Oluyede insisted that the party has resolved its internal disputes, is now united, and remains fully prepared to win the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
He expressed optimism that his name would ultimately appear on the ballot, declaring that justice and due process would prevail.
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