The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the names and particulars of governorship candidates and their running mates for the June 20, 2026 election in Ekiti State, with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) conspicuously absent from the list.
Checks at the INEC state headquarters along the new Iyin-Ekiti Road in Ado-Ekiti on Monday showed that while details of 12 political parties were displayed, the name of the PDP governorship candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, did not feature.
Oluyede had emerged as the PDP flagbearer on November 8, 2025, following a primary election conducted by the Aminu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the party.
Sources within INEC attributed the omission to the lingering national crisis within the PDP, which has split the party into rival factions laying claim to its leadership.
The dispute, it was learnt, has triggered a series of court cases, complicating the party’s submission of candidates’ particulars to the electoral body.
The list released by INEC shows the following governorship candidates and their deputies for the Ekiti 2026 election:
Accord Party: Opeyemi Falegan (41) and Omoyemi Olaleye (42).
African Action Congress: Akande Oluwasegun (36) and Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe.
Action Democratic Party: Ayodeji Ojo (42) and Itunu Ibitoye (35).
African Democratic Congress: Oluwadare Bejide (66) and Paul Olowoyeye (52).
All Progressives Congress: Biodun Oyebanji (58) and Monisade Afuye (67).
Action People’s Party: Bidemi Awogbemi (36) and Akinyemi Adewumi (53).
Allied People’s Movement: Joseph Anifowose (65) and Margaret Ilesanmi (68).
Labour Party: Oyebanji Olajuyin (67) and Ayokunle Okumade (45).
New Nigeria People’s Party: Blessing Abegunde (35) and Francis Ajayi (65).
People’s Redemption Party: Olaniyi Ayodele (49) and Modupe Adebiyi (35).
Young Progressive Party: Owoola Daramola (54) and Opeyemi Adeyemo (51).
Zenith Labour Party: Victor Adetunji (38) and Adesina Oyeniyi (35).
INEC officials said the commission would continue to act in line with the law, pending the resolution of internal disputes affecting political parties ahead of the election.