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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday, nullified the outcome of the 8 November 2025 governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State and ordered a fresh governorship primary exercise in the state.
Dr Wole Oluyede had emerged the winner of the gubernatorial primary election conducted on 8 November 2025 by the Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo-led electoral committee.
Ayeni, one of the contestants in the primary election who was dissatisfied with the outcome, had approached the court to challenge the victory of Oluyede.
The judgment was delivered in the suit numbered FHC/AD/CS/29/2025, filed by Mr Funsho Ayeni against the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The plaintiff alleged that the party failed to present the original and authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates used for the exercise.
He also submitted that the absence of the original delegates’ list constituted a fundamental breach of the PDP guidelines and the Electoral Act, thereby rendering the primary election invalid.
In his judgment, Justice Kuewumi held that the conduct of the primary election did not comply with the provisions of the law and the PDP’s constitution.
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Justice Kuewumi therefore nullified the primary election and ordered the PDP, in conjunction with INEC, to conduct a fresh governorship primary election in strict compliance with the law and relevant guidelines.
He also ruled that all eligible aspirants be allowed to participate in the fresh primary election to ensure transparency, fairness, and internal democracy within the party.
Oluyede emerged the party’s candidate after he secured 279 votes, defeating Funsho Ayeni, who got 239, and a female aspirant, Funmi Ogun, who garnered 17 votes.
At the previous hearings, Kola Kolade (SAN) led other lawyers to represent Ayeni, while Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Owoseni Ajayi represented Oluyede.
The Osun State Legal Adviser of the party, Ola Alonge, a lawyer, held brief for the PDP.
INEC has fixed 20 June 2026 for the governorship election in the state.
