By Peter Omopo
The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for the June 20, 2026 election in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has welcomed the court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish his name as the party’s candidate.
Oluyede described the ruling as a victory for the people of Ekiti State and for democracy.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered INEC to include Oluyede’s name and the logo of the Peoples Democratic Party on the ballot for the upcoming governorship election.
The court also barred the electoral commission from excluding him from any election-related activity.
INEC had earlier omitted the PDP and its candidate when it released what it described as the final list of candidates for the Ekiti governorship election on January 19.
The omission followed the commission’s earlier rejection of the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP governorship candidate, Oluyede, due to internal divisions within the party.
Oluyede and the PDP subsequently challenged the decision in court.
Reacting to the judgment in a statement released in Ado Ekiti through his Special Adviser on Media, Gani Salau, the PDP candidate said the ruling met the expectations of the people of Ekiti.
He said the decision would allow the party to focus fully on its campaign ahead of the election.
Oluyede called on residents of the state, regardless of political affiliation, to vote out the All Progressives Congress-led government of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in the June 20 election.
He promised that his campaign would focus on issues and present policies aimed at transforming the state and improving the welfare of residents.
Oluyede also thanked the people of Ekiti for their support and urged them to translate their goodwill into votes for him and the PDP.
Meanwhile, the PDP Southwest zone also welcomed the court verdict, describing it as a victory for justice, democracy and the rule of law.
In a statement, the PDP Southwest Zonal Publicity Secretary, Chief Sanya Atofarati, said the judgment reaffirmed that no institution is above the law.
He congratulated Oluyede and party members, while calling on supporters across all wards and local government areas in the state to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the election.
Atofarati also commended the judiciary for upholding justice and expressed appreciation to the people of Ekiti for their continued support for the party.
