PDP also called on its members to intensify campaigns ahead of the Ekiti guber election, expressing confidence in victory with Oluyede as its candidate.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed the decision of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Dr Oluwole Oluyede as its governorship candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.
The party hailed the development on Friday in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong.
Oluyede had earlier been presented with a certificate of return by the National Chairman of the PDP, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), confirming him as the party’s flagbearer for the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti.
However, INEC refused to include the PDP candidate on the list of contestants it displayed at its headquarters in the state ahead of the election.
The decision prompted the candidate and the major opposition party to challenge the electoral body’s action in court.
In a judgement delivered by Justice Umar, the court granted all the reliefs sought by Oluyede and the PDP in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/40/2026, filed against INEC.
The court also criticised the commission for excluding Oluyede from the list of candidates for the forthcoming Ekiti governorship election and directed it to recognise him as the PDP candidate immediately.
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Justice Umar further ordered INEC to include Oluyede’s name and the PDP logo on the ballot for the election.
The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the Commission from rejecting or excluding him from any activities related to the governorship poll.
Reacting to the verdict, the PDP described the ruling as a victory for justice and democracy.
The party also urged INEC to operate strictly within the law and avoid actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system.
”We welcome this judgement as a confirmation of the reality in Ekiti and acknowledge that, indeed, justice has been served.
“Furthermore, we admonish INEC to act within the confines of the law and refrain from unbridled partisanship. The Commission is aware of several judgements to the effect that it cannot exclude lawfully nominated candidates, as in the instant case. They should remember the historic negative roles which past electoral commissions played in the collapse of democracy in the past republics and consciously act in favour of protecting multi-party democracy, and not otherwise,” the statement read.
The PDP also called on its members in Ekiti State to intensify their campaigns ahead of the governorship election, expressing confidence in victory with Oluyede as its candidate.
“With this over, the path to victory in the Ekiti governorship election is clear, and we charge our members to hit the campaign trail with their message of redemption through the candidature of Dr Oluwole Oluyede,” the party added
