By Gbenga Sodeinde
Ado Ekiti
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has reaffirmed Dr. Wole Oluyede as its duly nominated governorship candidate for the 2026 election, assuring party members and the electorate that ongoing legal proceedings will not disrupt its campaign activities across the state.
The party gave the assurance amid recent court rulings and the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) provisional list of gubernatorial candidates, which the PDP insisted is not final.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Media and Communication of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Chief Sanya Atofarati, the party urged supporters to remain calm and resolute, stressing that the judgment of the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti directing a fresh primary election does not invalidate Dr. Oluyede’s candidacy.
According to Atofarati, Dr. Oluyede emerged through a valid primary election conducted on November 8 and in full compliance with the PDP Constitution, the Electoral Act, and established party guidelines.
“Political parties have exclusive authority over their internal affairs, including the conduct of primaries, as consistently upheld by the Supreme Court,” the statement said.
The Campaign Council disclosed that the party has filed a stay of execution and appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, delivered on January 13, at the Court of Appeal. It added that the PDP’s legal team has been directed to pursue all lawful remedies to protect the party’s mandate.
Providing further clarification, the Special Adviser on Media to Dr. Oluyede, Mr. Gani Salau, explained that the PDP had earlier approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order of mandamus to compel INEC to publish Dr. Oluyede’s name, having duly received it after the November primary election.
Salau noted that the primary election was monitored and supervised by INEC, which also deposed to an affidavit confirming Dr. Oluyede as the party’s candidate.
“The case comes up in Abuja this week, and we are confident that the court will compel INEC to publish the name of Dr. Wole Oluyede as the duly elected candidate of the PDP,” he said.
He added that the litigation arose from a suit filed by one of the aspirants, Mr. Funsho Ayeni, who challenged the conduct of the primary, a development the party described as part of routine internal party disagreements.
Despite the legal challenges, the PDP insisted that its campaign activities remain uninterrupted, noting that grassroots mobilisation and acceptance of Dr. Oluyede across Ekiti State have continued to gain momentum.
The party reiterated its commitment to people-oriented governance, promising improved healthcare delivery, quality education, job creation, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth under a PDP-led administration.
“Dr. Wole Oluyede remains not only our candidate but a candidate to beat in the 2026 governorship election,” Salau declared. “Our detractors may be at work, but at the end of the day, we shall be victorious. This phase will surely pass.”.
The PDP called on its members, supporters, and well-meaning Ekiti residents to intensify mobilisation efforts and remain actively engaged in the democratic process, assuring them that the party remains united, focused, and confident of favourable judicial outcomes.