INEC has excluded the Peoples Democratic Party from the provisional list of candidates for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, as the party failed to appear on the published register.
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday displayed the provisional list of candidates from 12 political parties at its office on New Iyin Road in Ado Ekiti. Noticeably missing were the names of the PDP governorship candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his running mate.
The list confirms that the All Progressives Congress is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his deputy.
Other contenders include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, with Omoyemi Olaleye as running mate, Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe, and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, who is running with Itunu Ibitoye.
Also on the list are Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye of the African Democratic Congress, as well as Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi representing the Action Peoples Party.
The exclusion of the PDP is widely believed to be linked to the unresolved leadership crisis at the party’s national level, which has continued to generate uncertainty over its internal affairs and electoral preparedness.
