A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has cancelled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s governorship primary for the 2026 election .
The presiding Judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, in his ruling, upheld claims of irregularities brought forward by aspirant Prince Funso Ayeni, who had challenged the primary, alleging manipulation of the approved delegate list on election day and directed the party to organise a fresh primary.
According to the Judge, there was a major abuse of political procedure and a blatant disregard for the PDP’s electoral guidelines, which contradicted both the party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Recall, Ayeni in his suit against the conduct of the primary had argued that the PDP primary election process compromised transparency, democracy, and fairness.
Reacting to the development, PDP South-West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sanya Atofarati, made it clear that the party would pursue all legal options, including an appeal, expressing confidence in the party’s legal team to upturn the judgment.
He assured that the ruling would not disrupt the party’s preparation for the June 20, 2026 governorship election, pointing out that the PDP’s campaign machinery was already active.
According to him, the party has inaugurated its campaign committee and begun grassroots mobilisation across all 16 local government areas of the state in support of its candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede.
“It may appear like a setback, but it is not. Ekiti people are already resolved to change the government in the state due to the underperformance of the current administration, and they see the PDP as the only tested and trusted alternative.
“After a thorough primary process, the delegates elected Dr. Wole Oluyede as the party’s candidate. Some aggrieved aspirants went to court to challenge that process. One of them withdrew her case, leaving only one petitioner.
“We are not relenting. Mobilisation has commenced from unit to unit, ward to ward, and across all local governments in Ekiti State,” Atofarati boasted.
