The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Dr. Oluwole Oluyede as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2026 election in Ekiti State.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Umar granted all the reliefs sought by Oluyede and the PDP in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/40/2026 filed against INEC.
The court faulted the electoral commission for excluding Oluyede from the list of candidates for the forthcoming governorship election and ordered the commission to immediately recognize him as the PDP’s flagbearer.
Justice Umar also directed INEC to include Oluyede’s name alongside the PDP logo on the ballot for the election. In addition, the court issued a perpetual injunction restraining the commission from rejecting or excluding him from any activities connected to the governorship poll.
Oluyede had earlier received a certificate of return from the PDP National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), confirming him as the party’s candidate for the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
However, the PDP alleged that INEC, under the leadership of its chairman, Joash Amupitan (SAN), failed to include Oluyede’s name on the official list of candidates, prompting the party and its candidate to challenge the decision in court.
Reacting to the judgment, the PDP described the ruling as a victory for justice and democracy.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party urged INEC to operate strictly within the law and avoid actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system.
The PDP also called on its members in Ekiti State to intensify their campaigns ahead of the governorship election, expressing confidence that the party would secure victory with Oluyede as its candidate.
