The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, Wole Oluyede, has described the recent court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish his name as the party’s flagbearer as a victory for the people of the state.
Oluyede said the ruling reaffirmed the supremacy of the rule of law and strengthened the democratic process ahead of the forthcoming governorship poll in the state.
A court had ordered INEC to recognise and publish Oluyede’s name as the valid candidate of the PDP for the election, resolving a dispute that had earlier cast uncertainty over the party’s participation in the race.
Reacting to the development, the governorship candidate said the judgment had restored hope to PDP members and supporters across the state, noting that the legal victory belonged not only to him but also to residents who desire credible leadership.
“This judgment is a victory for democracy and for the people of Ekiti State who are eager to see positive change and good governance,” Oluyede said while responding to the court’s decision.
He called on party members and supporters to remain united and focused ahead of the election, stressing that the PDP was now fully prepared to present its programmes and vision to the electorate.
The Peoples Democratic Party Southwest Zone also welcomed the ruling, describing it as a triumph for justice, democracy and the rule of law.
In a statement following the judgment, the zonal leadership of the party commended the judiciary for upholding fairness and ensuring that the democratic process was protected.
Party leaders said the decision would strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s judicial system and reinforce the
principle that electoral disputes should be resolved through lawful means.
The controversy began after INEC published what it described as the final list of candidates for the Ekiti governorship election on January 19 but omitted the name of the PDP and its candidate.
The electoral commission’s decision was linked to the internal crisis within the party, which had produced different claims to the governorship ticket.
INEC had earlier declined to recognise Oluyede as the party’s candidate following disagreements within the PDP leadership over the nomination process.
The dispute was connected to the faction of the party associated with Tanimu Turaki, which had backed Oluyede’s candidacy amid the lingering divisions within the party structure.
The omission of the PDP from the list of candidates generated significant political debate in the state, with many observers expressing concern that one of Nigeria’s major opposition parties might be excluded from the election.
However, the court’s intervention has now cleared the uncertainty surrounding the party’s participation in the race by directing INEC to recognise Oluyede as the valid candidate.
Political analysts believe the development could reshape the dynamics of the Ekiti governorship contest, as the PDP is expected to intensify its campaign efforts following the legal victory.
With the June 20 election drawing closer, stakeholders say the focus will now shift to campaigns and voter engagement as political parties seek to convince the electorate with their programmes and policy proposals.
For Oluyede and his supporters, the judgment represents not only a legal triumph but also an opportunity to re-energise the party’s campaign machinery across the state as the contest for the governorship seat gathers momentum.
