Appeal Court Declares Dr. Wole Oluyede as Valid PDP Candidate for 2026 Ekiti Governorship Election

Akure Appeal Court validates Wole Oluyede as Ekiti PDP guber candidate, overturning lower court ruling ahead of the June 2026 governorship election.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 8:52 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

Appellate Victory for PDP and Oluyede

In a unanimous decision delivered on March 12, 2026, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Akure has validated the primary election that produced Dr. Wole Oluyede as the PDP’s governorship candidate. The panel, led by Justice Peter Chudi Obiorah, set aside the January 13 ruling of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, which had previously nullified the primary results and cast doubt on the party's participation in the upcoming polls.

Compliance and Transparency Affirmed

The appellate court held that the PDP primary, conducted on November 8 and 9, 2025, was held in strict compliance with both the party's constitution and the Electoral Act. The justices emphasized that the process, overseen by the National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, was "lawful, transparent, and properly conducted." This ruling directly addresses the procedural grievances that had led to the initial nullification, providing the legal clarity necessary for the PDP to resume its campaign.

Resolving the Candidacy Dispute

The legal battle stemmed from internal friction following the primary, where Dr. Oluyede, a prominent physician, emerged victorious with 279 votes. The dispute had led to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) excluding the PDP from the final list of candidates released in early 2026. With this judgment, the PDP is now positioned to formally challenge for the governorship, potentially altering the competitive landscape dominated by the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC).