The Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court that nullified its governorship primary election which produced Dr Wole Oluyede as its candidate for the June 20, 2026 governorship poll.
The party said it had approached the Court of Appeal to overturn the ruling and had also filed an application for a stay of execution, insisting that Oluyede remains its duly nominated candidate pending the outcome of the appeal.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Ado Ekiti by the Director of Media and Communication of the Ekiti PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Sanya Atofarati.
According to Atofarati, the notice of appeal and the stay application effectively preserve the status quo, stressing that the judgment does not invalidate Oluyede’s candidacy until a superior court decides otherwise.
He maintained that Oluyede emerged from a valid primary election that was properly conducted and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Atofarati said the party was undeterred by ongoing litigation and political pressure, adding that the PDP remained focused on reclaiming power from the All Progressives Congress in the 2026 election.
He accused the APC of attempting to exploit the court ruling to destabilise the opposition, noting that the situation had instead strengthened the PDP’s resolve and highlighted what he described as the failures of the ruling party in Ekiti State.
According to him, pensioners are owed arrears, major roads are in poor condition, the education sector has deteriorated, businesses are burdened by multiple taxation and public infrastructure has suffered neglect.
Atofarati also alleged that the APC-led administration was unpopular, even within its own ranks, accusing it of suppressing internal dissent by avoiding credible primary elections.
He stressed that the PDP had not withdrawn recognition of Oluyede as its governorship candidate and would only do so if compelled by the final decision of a superior court.
The party further alleged that the omission of Oluyede’s name from INEC’s provisional list of candidates was a deliberate attempt to unlawfully exclude the PDP from the ballot, adding that it had already taken legal steps to compel the electoral body to act in line with the law.
The PDP urged its members and supporters to remain united and intensify grassroots mobilisation, including active participation in the ongoing INEC voter registration exercise ahead of the election.
It will be recalled that the Federal High Court last week nullified the PDP governorship primaries held on November 8, 2025, following a suit filed by one of the aspirants, Funso Ayeni, and ordered the conduct of a fresh primary election.
