The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the names and particulars of 12 governorship candidates and their running mates for the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conspicuously absent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the name of the PDP candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, an Australia-based medical expert and businessman, was not included in the list published by the commission on Monday.
Dr Oluyede had emerged as the PDP governorship candidate at the party’s primary election held on November 8, 2025, which was supervised by INEC and conducted by the Aminu Turaki-led National Working Committee. As at the time of filing this report, INEC had not officially stated reasons for the omission.
However, anonymous sources within the commission attributed the development to the lingering national leadership crisis within the PDP, which has resulted in two factions laying claim to the party’s leadership and a series of litigations currently before the courts.
According to INEC, the candidates and their deputies cleared for the election are as follows:
Accord Party: Opeyemi Falegan (41) and Omoyemi Olaleye (42).
African Action Congress (AAC): Akande Oluwasegun (36) and Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe.
Action Democratic Party (ADP): Ayodeji Ojo (42) and Itunu Ibitoye (35).
African Democratic Congress (ADC): Oluwadare Bejide (66) and Paul Olowoyeye (52).
All Progressives Congress (APC): Biodun Oyebanji (58) and Monisade Afuye (67).
Action People’s Party (APP): Bidemi Awogbemi (36) and Akinyemi Adewumi (53).
Allied People’s Movement (APM): Joseph Anifowose (65) and Margaret Ilesanmi (68).
Labour Party (LP): Oyebanji Olajuyin (67) and Ayokunle Okumade (45).
New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP): Blessing Abegunde (35) and Francis Ajayi (65).
People’s Redemption Party (PRP): Olaniyi Ayodele (49) and Modupe Adebiyi (35).
Young Progressive Party (YPP): Owoola Daramola (54) and Opeyemi Adeyemo (51).
Zenith Labour Party (ZLP): Victor Adetunji (38) and Adesina Oyeniyi (35).
INEC reiterated that the publication of candidates’ names was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, ahead of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
