RismadarVoice Reporters
January 14, 2026
Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct a fresh governorship primary election to choose its candidate for the Ekiti State governorship race.
The order was given on Tuesday by Justice Babs Kuewumi, who nullified the party’s governorship primary held on November 8, in which Dr. Wole Oluyede emerged as candidate.
The court ruled in favour of one of the aspirants in the election, Funso Ayeni, who challenged the outcome of the primary. Ayeni approached the court, seeking the cancellation of the exercise on the grounds that it failed to comply with the party’s constitution, guidelines, and provisions of the Electoral Act.
In the suit marked FHC/AD/CS/29/2025, Ayeni, through his counsel Kola Kolade, SAN, argued that the PDP failed to present the original, authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates used for the primary election. He maintained that the absence of the delegates’ list amounted to a fundamental breach that rendered the process invalid.
Delivering judgment, Justice Kuewumi held that the conduct of the primary election did not comply with the law or the party’s constitution.
The judge consequently nullified the primary, ordered the PDP, in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh governorship primary in strict compliance with relevant laws and party guidelines.
Justice Kuewumi further directed that all eligible aspirants must be allowed to participate in the fresh primary to ensure transparency, fairness, and internal democracy within the party.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Dr. Wole Oluyede, Owoseni Ajayi, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, announcing that the decision would be appealed. He also disclosed plans to file for a stay of execution.
It will be recalled that Oluyede’s name was earlier excluded from the list of governorship candidates published by INEC on December 29, ahead of the June 20 governorship election. Oluyede had vowed to challenge the exclusion and pursue all legal means to have his name restored to the list.
