Ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates and their running mates cleared to participate in the election.
However, the names of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Oluwole Oluyede, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Mr David Bankole, were not included in the list.
The earlier omission of Oluyede and the PDP from the provisional list published by INEC on December 29, 2025, had sparked protests from party leaders and members across the state. Oluyede had also disclosed that legal action was taken against INEC over the exclusion.
Nonetheless, the 12 political parties that made INEC’s final list are Accord, AAC, ADC, ADP, APC, APM, APP, LP, NNPP, PRP, YPP and ZLP.
The cleared governorship candidates and their deputies are Opeyemi Falegan and Bayode Omoyeni (Accord), Oluwasegun Akande and Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe (AAC), Oluwadare Bejide and Ayodeji Babalola (ADC), Ojo Ayodeji and Itunu Ibitoye (ADP), Olanrewaju Anifowose and Adenike Ilesanmi (APM), and Biodun Oyebanji with Monisade Afuye (APC).
Others include Olaiya Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi (APP), Oyebanji Olajuyin and Odunayo Okunade (LP), Praise Ayodele and Dorcas Adeniyi (PRP), Damilola Adetunji and Adesina Oyeniyi (ZLP), Olusegun Osinkolu (YPP), and Blessing Abegunde with Ade Francis (NNPP).
Reacting to the development, media aide to the PDP candidate, Mr Gani Salau, said the party has approached the court to appeal the Federal High Court judgment that nullified its primary election. He added that an application for stay of execution has been filed, requesting INEC to include the PDP candidate in the forthcoming governorship election.
Similarly, the SDP chairman in the state, Hon Ayodele Bamikole, said the party would also seek legal redress over the exclusion of its candidate from INEC’s final list.
However, the names of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Oluwole Oluyede, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Mr David Bankole, were not included in the list.
The earlier omission of Oluyede and the PDP from the provisional list published by INEC on December 29, 2025, had sparked protests from party leaders and members across the state. Oluyede had also disclosed that legal action was taken against INEC over the exclusion.
Nonetheless, the 12 political parties that made INEC’s final list are Accord, AAC, ADC, ADP, APC, APM, APP, LP, NNPP, PRP, YPP and ZLP.
The cleared governorship candidates and their deputies are Opeyemi Falegan and Bayode Omoyeni (Accord), Oluwasegun Akande and Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe (AAC), Oluwadare Bejide and Ayodeji Babalola (ADC), Ojo Ayodeji and Itunu Ibitoye (ADP), Olanrewaju Anifowose and Adenike Ilesanmi (APM), and Biodun Oyebanji with Monisade Afuye (APC).
Others include Olaiya Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi (APP), Oyebanji Olajuyin and Odunayo Okunade (LP), Praise Ayodele and Dorcas Adeniyi (PRP), Damilola Adetunji and Adesina Oyeniyi (ZLP), Olusegun Osinkolu (YPP), and Blessing Abegunde with Ade Francis (NNPP).
Reacting to the development, media aide to the PDP candidate, Mr Gani Salau, said the party has approached the court to appeal the Federal High Court judgment that nullified its primary election. He added that an application for stay of execution has been filed, requesting INEC to include the PDP candidate in the forthcoming governorship election.
Similarly, the SDP chairman in the state, Hon Ayodele Bamikole, said the party would also seek legal redress over the exclusion of its candidate from INEC’s final list.