Ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday released the final list of candidates and their running mates cleared to contest in the governorship poll.
The names of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Oluwole Oluyede and his Social Democratic Party (SDP) counterpart, Mr David Bankole were, however, not included in the lists.
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The exclusion of Oluyede and that of his party, PDP from the provisional lists released by INEC on 29, December, 2025 was protested by the leaders and members of the political parties in the state. Oluyede also recently disclosed that legal action has been instituted against INEC on the matter.
However, the 12 political parties that made the final list of the commission are: Accord, AAC, ADC, ADP, APC, APM, APP, LP, NNPP, PRP, YPP and ZLP.
The names of the governorship candidate and their running mates includes : Opeyemi Falegan and Bayode Omoyeni (Accord), Oluwasegun Akande and Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe (AAC), Oluwadare Bejide and Ayodeji Babalola (ADC), Ojo Ayodeji and Itunu Ibitoye (ADP) , Olanrewaju Anifowose and Adenike Ilesanmi (APM), Biodun Oyebanji and Monisade Afuye (APC).
Others are, Olaiya Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi (APP), Oyebanji Olajuyin and Odunayo Okunade (LP), Praise Ayodele and Dorcas Adeniyi (PRP), Damilola Adetunji and Adesina Oyeniyi (ZLP,) Olusegun Osinkolu (YPP), Blessing Abegunde and Ade Francis (NNPP).
Reacting, the media aide to the PDP candidate, Mr. Gani Salau, said they have approached the court to appeal the Federal High Court judgement that nullified the party’s primary election. He added that they have applied for stay of execution, seeking for INEC inclusion of the name of the PDP candidate, for the next governorship election in the state.
Also speaking, the SDP chairman in the state, Hon. Ayodele Bamikole, said the party will approach the court on the exclusion of their candidate from the final INEC lists.