A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ekiti gubernatorial primary election, which produced Dr Wole Oluyede. Consequently, the court has ordered a fresh governorship primary election in the state.
The court gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by a governorship aspirant, Mr Funsho Ayeni, against PDP and the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), challenging the validity of the governorship primary, alleging that the party failed to present the original and authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates used for the exercise.
He also argued that the absence of the original delegates’ list constituted a fundamental breach of the PDP guidelines and the Electoral Act, thereby rendering the primary election invalid.
Delivering judgment, Justice Babs Kuewumi held that the conduct of the primary election did not comply with the provisions of the law and the party’s constitution. He consequently nullified the primary election and ordered PDP, in conjunction with INEC, to conduct a fresh primary in strict compliance with the law and relevant guidelines.
The judge ordered that all eligible aspirants be allowed to participate in the fresh primary election to ensure transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.
Oluyede had emerged winner of the governorship primary election conducted on Nov. 8, 2025, by the Sen. Ibrahim Dankwambo-led electoral committee after scoring 279 votes to defeat Funsho Ayeni and Mrs Funmi Ogun.
