INEC Releases Ekiti Governorship Candidates List, Omits PDP Flagbearer

The list of contenders for the Ekiti State governorship election on June 20, 2026, has been made public by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The list, which was displayed on Monday at the INEC headquarters in the state capital of Ado-Ekiti, includes the names of candidates for governor and their running mates from twelve political parties who have been given the go-ahead to run.

Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress, Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, and Bidemi Awogbemi of the Action People’s Party are among those listed.

Others include Olaniyi Ayodele of the People’s Redemption Party, Owoola Daramola of the Young Progressive Party, Victor Adetunji of the Zenith Labour Party, Joseph Anifowose of the Allied People’s Movement, Blessing Abegunde of the New Nigeria People Party, and Oyebanji Olajuyin of the Labour Party.

On the list made public by the electoral umpire, Wole Oluyede, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, was noticeably missing.

In November, Oluyede, a medical expert, emerged as the PDP’s candidate for governor, defeating Funso Ayeni, his closest opponent, with 279 votes. With support from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, the PDP National Working Committee held the primary poll.

A protracted leadership dispute within the PDP has divided the party into groups, one supporting Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and the other supporting Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.

A bid to recognize Kabiru Turaki’s National Working Committee, which is supported by Makinde and Mohammed, was denied by INEC last week.

The commission explained that it would not update its records to reflect any changes in the PDP’s national leadership until ongoing legal disputes emanating from the party’s national convention held in November in Ibadan, Oyo State, were resolved, citing existing court rulings.