Ekiti 2026: PDP Campaign Confident of Victory Despite Candidate’s Legal Hurdle

The campaign organisation for the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has declared its confidence in winning the June 2026 election, despite his current exclusion from the ballot by the electoral commission.

Oluyede will face incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, among other candidates, if he successfully overturns a recent court ruling.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Director-General of the Oluyede Campaign Council, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, accused political opponents of placing obstacles in their path but remained defiant. “Neither Oluyede nor the PDP can be stopped,” Ogundipe stated.

This optimism persists even though the Independent National Electoral Commission omitted Oluyede’s name from its final list of cleared candidates. The exclusion followed a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the PDP primary election which produced Oluyede and ordered a fresh primary.

The campaign maintains that these setbacks are temporary. “Dr Oluyede convincingly won the PDP primary election… The PDP and its governorship candidate have filed an application for a stay of execution of the judgment and have also lodged an appeal,” Ogundipe explained. He described the upcoming election as a direct contest between the people of Ekiti and the incumbent governor.

The PDP has alleged that the APC and Governor Oyebanji are behind the legal challenges, fearing a competitive race. However, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Segun Dipe, has denied any involvement. “It is not in our interest for any candidate to be disqualified. We want all parties to participate so that we can secure a landslide victory,” Dipe said.

As the legal processes continue, Oluyede’s campaign is urging its supporters to remain steadfast, expressing confidence that he will ultimately be on the ballot and emerge victorious.