The winner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primary in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has confirmed plans to appeal the Federal High Court’s nullification of the exercise, describing the ruling as unjust and procedurally flawed.
Through his lawyer, Owoseni Ajayi, Oluyede stated that an appeal will be filed promptly, along with a request for a stay of execution, to prevent the immediate conduct of a fresh primary.
He emphasised his determination to exhaust all legal avenues to have his candidacy recognised and his name restored to the list of eligible governorship candidates for the June 20, 2026 election.
The appeal comes after the Ado Ekiti Division of the Federal High Court, on Tuesday, invalidated the PDP primaries held on November 8, 2025.
Justice Babs Kuewumi ruled in favour of an aspirant, Funso Ayeni, who challenged the primary on the grounds that the party failed to present an authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates used in the exercise.
In his judgment, Justice Kuewumi ordered the PDP, in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh primary in strict compliance with the law and the party’s constitution, allowing all eligible aspirants to participate.
While the court’s decision forms the legal basis for a new primary, Oluyede insisted that the ruling does not reflect the fairness and legality of the original exercise.
He argued that his victory at the primaries was legitimate and that the nullification undermines both internal democracy and the rights of party members.
Oluyede had earlier been excluded from INEC’s official list of governorship candidates published on December 29, 2025, a development he has vowed to contest vigorously.
“We will ensure that justice prevails and that Dr Oluyede’s rightful position as PDP’s governorship candidate is restored ahead of the 2026 election,” Ajayi said.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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