- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Reactions have since continued to trail the official list released on Monday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the People Democratic Party (PDP) insisted not to be dettered with the list.
Recalled that the electoral body on Monday made available to the public the official final list of candidates cleared to contest the June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti State.
According to the list from the INEC’s state headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, issued in line with the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the publication of candidates’ names 150 days before an election.
But PDP in a reaction to the INEC list vowed to proceed with their campaign across the sixteen Local Government and LCDA’s in Ekiti, begin from Wednesday 21st January 2026.
The party in a statement by the Director Media and Communication of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Chief Sanya Atofarati, reaffirmed Dr Wole Oluyede as its duly nominated governorship candidate for the 2026 gubernatorial election.
Notably missing from the INEC list were the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, including the PDP governorship flagbearer, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his running mate, Deji Ogunsakin.
INEC confirmed that 12 political parties successfully completed the nomination process, with details of candidates and their deputies, including names, ages and qualifications, contained in the published document.
The All Progressives Congress was cleared to field the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, alongside his deputy, Monisade Afuye, as its governorship ticket.
Other cleared parties include ADP, ADC, AAC, Accord, APM, APP, Labour Party, NNPP, PRP, YPP and ZLP, some of which made substitutions to their earlier nominations.
The exclusion of the PDP has stirred political reactions across the state, with observers linking the development to unresolved legal disputes and internal disagreements over the party’s primary, as campaigns formally kick off ahead of the poll.
Meanwhile, INEC has cautioned all political parties to avoid campaign of calumny, hate speech, and violence as campaigns begin tomorrow ahead of the June 20th Ekiti governorship election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Bunmi Omosehindemi who gave the warning while addressing stakeholders and media at INEC’s Ado Ekiti office emphasized the need for decorum during the electioneering process.
Dr. Bunmi Omosehindemi said that parties breaching electoral laws would face sanctions online with the country’s electoral law.
Omosehindemi confirmed the release of the final list of governorship and deputy governorship candidates.
PDP and SDP candidates name was not among those released.
