The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the list of candidates cleared to contest the June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti State, with nominees from 12 political parties making the final cut.
The list was displayed on Monday at INEC’s state headquarters in Ado-Ekiti and features the names of governorship candidates along with their running mates who have satisfied the commission’s requirements.
Among those cleared are Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress (AAC); Ayodeji Ojo representing the Action Democratic Party (ADP); and Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Also listed are incumbent governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bidemi Awogbemi of the Action People’s Party (APP).
Other candidates include Joseph Anifowose of the Allied People’s Movement (APM); Oyebanji Olajuyin of the Labour Party (LP); Blessing Abegunde of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP); Olaniyi Ayodele of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP); Owoola Daramola of the Young Progressive Party (YPP); and Victor Adetunji of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Noticeably missing from the list was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wole Oluyede. Oluyede, a medical practitioner, emerged as the PDP flagbearer during the party’s primary election held in November, where he secured 279 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Funso Ayeni, who garnered 239 votes. The primary was organised by a faction of the PDP National Working Committee with the support of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
The exclusion is linked to the lingering leadership crisis within the PDP, which has split the party into rival factions. One faction is aligned with Governors Makinde and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, while the other is loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
INEC had earlier declined a request to recognise the PDP National Working Committee led by Kabiru Turaki, citing unresolved legal battles over the party’s national leadership. The commission explained that existing court rulings prevent it from updating its records until all disputes arising from the PDP’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November are fully resolved.
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As the election approaches, the fate of the PDP’s participation in the Ekiti governorship race remains uncertain, pending the outcome of the ongoing legal tussles.
