The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially released the list of candidates cleared to contest the June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti State, setting the stage for political activities ahead of the poll.
The list was made public on Monday and displayed at the INEC state headquarters in Ado-Ekiti. It features the names of governorship candidates and their respective running mates from 12 political parties that successfully met the commission’s requirements to participate in the election.
Among those cleared are Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress (AAC); Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC); and Bidemi Awogbemi of the Action People’s Party (APP).
Also listed are 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).
Notably absent from the published list is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wole Oluyede. Oluyede, a medical practitioner, had emerged as the PDP’s governorship flagbearer in November after securing 279 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Funso Ayeni, who garnered 239 votes. The party’s primary election was organised by the PDP National Working Committee with the support of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
The exclusion of the PDP candidate is widely linked to the party’s ongoing internal crisis, which has seen it divided into rival factions. One faction is aligned with Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, while the other is loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Adding to the uncertainty, INEC recently declined a request to recognise a National Working Committee reportedly led by Kabiru Turaki and backed by the Makinde–Mohammed bloc. The electoral body cited existing court judgements and explained that it would not amend its records on the party’s national leadership until all legal disputes stemming from the PDP’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November are fully resolved.
As preparations for the Ekiti governorship election continue, the absence of the PDP candidate underscores the impact of unresolved internal conflicts on the party’s electoral prospects in the state.
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