Ekiti 2026: PDP Excluded As INEC Reveals Parties, Governorship Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a provisional list of 12 political parties and their governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.

The provisional list, pasted at the INEC state office located along New Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital, on Monday, was, however, without the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates, Dr. Wole Oluyede, and his running mate.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was listed alongside its consensus candidate, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his running mate.

Others included Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party with Omoyemi Olaleye as running mate; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress (AAC) with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe as running mate, and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) with Itunu Ibitoye as deputy governorship candidate.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presents Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, while the Action People’s Party (APP) fields Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi.

Other parties on the list were the Allied People’s Movement, Labour Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, People’s Redemption Party, Young Progressive Party, and Zenith Labour Party.

Sources close to INEC in the State said that the omission of PDP candidate Oluyede’s name might not be unconnected with the unresolved disagreement and legal issues over the authentic leadership of the party.

The electoral body stated that it will update the list on January 19, 2026, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022, as parties finalised substitutions and resolve legal issues ahead of the election in 2026.