A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has nullified the governorship primary conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State ahead of the 2026 election, ordering the party to organise a fresh exercise in strict compliance with the law.
The court, presided over by Justice Babs Kuewumi, delivered the ruling on Tuesday in a suit marked FHC/AD/CS/29/2025, filed by a governorship aspirant, Funso Ayeni, against the PDP and the Independent National Election Commission.
Ayeni had challenged the legitimacy of the primary that produced Dr Wole Oluyede as the party’s candidate, arguing that the PDP failed to present the original and authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates used for the exercise.
He contended that the absence of the delegates’ list constituted a fundamental breach of the PDP guidelines and the Electoral Act, rendering the primary invalid.
In his judgment, Justice Kuewumi agreed with the claimant, holding that the conduct of the primary fell short of the provisions of the law and the party’s constitution.
“The failure to produce the authentic delegates’ list is a clear violation of the party’s guidelines and the Electoral Act,” the judge ruled, declaring the exercise null and void.
Consequently, the court ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary election in Ekiti State, mandating INEC to monitor the process.
Justice Kuewumi further directed that all qualified and eligible aspirants must be allowed to participate in the new primary to guarantee transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.
Oluyede, a medical expert, had emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate on November 8 after polling 279 votes to defeat Ayeni, who scored 239 votes.
The exercise was conducted by the PDP National Working Committee with the backing of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
The ruling is expected to reshape the PDP’s political calculations in Ekiti as preparations intensify for the 2026 governorship election
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