A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sacked Dr Wole Oluyede as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2026 Ekiti State election and ordered a fresh primary poll.
Justice Babs Kuewumi upheld the suit filed by Prince Funso Ayeni, who challenged the PDP primary over alleged irregularities, including manipulation of the approved delegate list on election day.
The court held that the conduct of the primary amounted to a gross abuse of process and violated PDP guidelines as well as constitutional provisions governing political parties.
Reacting to the judgment, the South-West Zonal Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Sanya Atofarati, said the party would appeal the ruling, expressing confidence in its legal team.
Atofarati insisted the judgment would not affect PDP’s preparations for the June 20 governorship election, noting that the party’s campaign committee had already been inaugurated and grassroots mobilisation was ongoing across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State.
He described the lawsuit as a conspiracy against the party, maintaining that the primary election was free and fair, as monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
