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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Southwest chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Akure, the Ondo State capital, affirming the validity of the primary election that produced Dr Wole Oluyede as the PDP candidate for the 20 June 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
The Southwest PDP also commended the judiciary for demonstrating that it is the last hope of the people and thanked members of the PDP and the people of Ekiti State for their love and support for the party while the litigation lasted.
Recall that the PDP in Ekiti State, on 8 November 2025, held its governorship primary election in Ado-Ekiti, conducted by the Ibrahim Dankwambo-led electoral committee, where Oluyede emerged as the party’s candidate for the June poll.
But one of the contestants, Dr Funso Ayeni, who was dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, approached the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti to challenge Oluyede’s victory.
The Federal High Court, in its ruling on 13 January 2026, nullified the primary election, citing alleged irregularities in the exercise and ordered that a fresh primary be conducted. However, Oluyede and the PDP challenged the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Delivering its judgement on Thursday, the appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, set aside the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which nullified the party’s primary election, and affirmed the validity of the PDP primary election that produced Oluyede as its governorship candidate.
The panel, led by Justice Peter Obiorah, alongside Justice Jane Inyang and Justice Peter Affen, held that the 8 November 2025 PDP governorship primary election was valid, transparent and complied with the constitution of the party and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The court also held that Funso Ayeni, the litigant, failed to prove allegations of non-accreditation of delegates and manipulation of the list of delegates used for the primary election.
It further held that the litigant did not explore the internal conflict resolution mechanism of his party before approaching the court.
Consequently, the court declared that Oluyede is the validly nominated and elected candidate of the PDP for the 20 June 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
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Reacting to the development, the PDP Southwest Publicity Secretary and Director of Media and Publicity for the Ekiti 2026 PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Chief Sanya Atofarati, said, “We just want to thank the people of Ekiti State.
“What the PDP is saying entirely now is that we appreciate, we welcome the judgement, we commend the courage of the judiciary. Even against internal interference by our political detractors, they remained resolute, they remained firm in dispensing justice because the court is the last hope of the common man.
“And the judiciary, especially the judges in this appeal, demonstrated integrity. They have demonstrated that democracy can only thrive when there is mutual respect, when there is adequate respect for internal political structure, for internal conflict resolution. Because democratic setting is bound to have issues. Interests are bound.
“But, in all of this, we must prioritise the overall interest of the political party to which we represent and the entire populace who will be the beneficiaries of our actions and inactions.
“So, today, the PDP is happy, the momentum is now right with the PDP in Ekiti State.
“The only reason why our detractors, particularly the party in power, which is the All Progressives Congress, have set their mind on the PDP is because they understand that the PDP enjoys largely the public appeal and they understand rightly that only PDP has that grassroots structure and public appeal to unseat this incompetent government that has underperformed for about four years now.
“We are happy and we have seen that the truth is paying off now. We can see the level of support that we have received while the litigation was on. The people prefer the PDP and they have demonstrated that in their prayers and support.
“This victory is not only for Dr Oluyede, neither is it only for the PDP, but it is for the entire people of Ekiti State.”
Atofarati used the medium to charge members of the party and the people of the state to seize the opportunity of the ongoing INEC registration of voters and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
“Also, we are appealing to all members of the PDP who have one ambition or the other to go all out now and ensure that they mobilise across the 177 political wards of the state to ensure that people register in the ongoing PDP membership registration exercise so that, at the end of the day, we all can celebrate together.”
