By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has affirmed Dr. Wole Oluyede as the duly nominated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-man panel led by Justice Peter Chudi Obiorah, with Justices Jane Esienanwan Inyang and Peter O. Affen concurring, set aside the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti which had nullified the party’s primary election.
The appellate court held that the PDP primary election conducted on November 8 and 9, 2025, under the supervision of the National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, complied with the provisions of the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act and all established electoral procedures.
The lower court had, on January 13, 2026, nullified the primary election that produced Oluyede as candidate. However, the PDP appealed the judgment, urging the appellate court to overturn the decision.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal dismissed the suit filed by PDP aspirant Funso Ayeni, holding that the primary election that produced Oluyede was valid and properly conducted.
The court also ruled that the reliefs sought by Ayeni had been overtaken by events because, in line with the timetable and guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the window for conducting another primary election had already elapsed.
Furthermore, the court held that Ayeni failed to exhaust the internal conflict resolution mechanisms of the PDP before approaching the court.
Reacting to the judgment, the PDP Southwest Publicity Secretary and Director of Media and Publicity for the PDP 2026 Governorship Campaign Council, Sanya Atofarati, described the verdict as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.
Atofarati explained that after the party’s primary election, two aspirants — Fumilayo Ogun and Ayeni — initially challenged the process in court.
According to him, Ogun later withdrew her suit out of respect for the party after realizing that the primary election complied with all legal and electoral requirements.
“With today’s judgment, the Court of Appeal has clearly affirmed that Dr. Oluyede remains the validly nominated candidate of the PDP for the June 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State,” he said.
He commended the judiciary for standing firm despite what he described as political pressure from detractors.
“The judiciary has demonstrated courage and integrity. Democracy can only thrive when institutions remain independent and when political actors respect internal conflict resolution mechanisms,” he added.
Atofarati said the ruling has finally resolved the legal dispute surrounding the party’s governorship ticket and positioned the PDP for the upcoming election.
He urged members of the party and residents of Ekiti State to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise by INEC and mobilize across the state’s 177 wards ahead of the election.
“This victory is not just for Dr. Oluyede or the PDP; it is for the entire people of Ekiti State. The momentum is now with the PDP as we prepare for the 2026 governorship election,” he said.