The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the provisional list of candidates for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, raising fresh questions about the party’s preparedness for the poll.
INEC on Monday displayed the list of governorship candidates from 12 political parties at its state office on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti. Notably absent were the names of the PDP’s governorship candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his running mate.
The provisional list shows that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, alongside Monisade Afuye as his deputy.
Other parties listed include the Accord Party, with Opeyemi Falegan and Omoyemi Olaleye; the African Action Congress (AAC), presenting Akande Oluwasegun and Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and the Action Democratic Party (ADP), featuring Ayodeji Ojo and Itunu Ibitoye.
Also on the list are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, as well as the Action Peoples Party (APP), which nominated Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi.
Although INEC did not provide an official explanation for the PDP’s omission, the development is widely believed to be linked to the prolonged leadership crisis at the party’s national level, which has continued to affect its internal processes across several states.