Sh*ck In Ekiti: INEC Releases Governorship Candidates List, PDP Flagbearer Left Out

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the list of candidates for the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The list, posted on Monday at the INEC headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, includes governorship candidates and their running mates from 12 political parties cleared to contest the election.

Notable names on the list include Opeyemi Falegan (Accord Party), Akande Oluwasegun (African Action Congress), Ayodeji Ojo (Action Democratic Party), Oluwadare Bejide (African Democratic Congress), Biodun Oyebanji (All Progressives Congress), and Bidemi Awogbemi (Action People’s Party).

Other candidates include Joseph Anifowose (Allied People’s Movement), Oyebanji Olajuyin (Labour Party), Blessing Abegunde (New Nigeria People Party), Olaniyi Ayodele (People’s Redemption Party), Owoola Daramola (Young Progressive Party), and Victor Adetunji (Zenith Labour Party).

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer, Wole Oluyede, was notably absent from the released list. Oluyede, a medical professional, emerged as PDP’s governorship candidate in November, winning 279 votes to defeat his closest rival, Funso Ayeni, who scored 239. The primary was conducted by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

The PDP has been embroiled in a long-standing leadership crisis, splitting the party into factions—one aligned with Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and another loyal to Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Last week, INEC rejected a request to recognise the NWC chaired by Kabiru Turaki, which is supported by Makinde and Mohammed. The commission cited existing court judgments, stating it would not update its records to reflect changes in PDP’s national leadership pending resolution of ongoing legal disputes arising from the party’s November national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.