The Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has described the court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish his name as the party’s flagbearer as a victory for the people of Ekiti.
The PDP in the Southwest Zone also hailed the court verdict, describing it as a triumph for justice, democracy and the rule of law.
Recall that INEC, while publishing what it termed the final list of candidates for the Ekiti governorship election on January 19, omitted the name of the PDP and its candidate.
INEC’s action followed its earlier rejection of the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP governorship candidate, Oluyede, arising from the division within the party.
Oluyede and the PDP challenged INEC’s decision in court, and a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the electoral body to include his name and the party’s logo on the ballot.
The court also barred INEC from excluding him from any election-related activity.
Reacting to the judgment, Oluyede said the order directing INEC “to include and publish my name as the authentic and duly elected candidate of the party is a victory for the people of Ekiti State.”
Oluyede, in a statement made available in Ado Ekiti on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Gani Salau, said “the judgment meets the expectation of Ekiti people.
“This judgment is a welcome development. We can now have more time to put everything together and focus on our campaign.”
The PDP candidate urged the people of the state, irrespective of their political parties, “to make sure that the present Biodun Oyebanji’s All Progressives Congress-led government ends on June 20 through votes that would liberate Ekiti State.”
“I can assure the people of Ekiti that our campaign will be issue-based on what I have to transform our dear state for the betterment of every one of us and, at the same time, make things different from the Oyebanji government,” he added.
He thanked the people of Ekiti for the show of love, solidarity and support they had rendered so far and urged them to translate it into votes for him and the PDP in the June 20 governorship election.
The PDP Southwest Zonal Publicity Secretary, Chief Sanya Atofarati, in a statement on Saturday congratulated Oluyede and the party for the victory in court.
Atofarati said, “This judgment is a victory for democracy and the rule of law, reaffirming that no institution is above the law.
“With this legal victory secured, we call on all PDP members and supporters across every ward and local government in Ekiti to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election. The momentum is now with the PDP. Victory is certain.
“We congratulate Dr Oluyede, whose candidacy has now been firmly validated by the court, and commend the judiciary for its courage in upholding justice. We also appreciate the good people of Ekiti State for their steadfast support and belief in the triumph of justice.”