The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced plans to challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in court after its candidate was omitted from the list for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, accusing the electoral body of bias and misconduct.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, the party described the exclusion of Dr. Oluwole Oluyede as a deliberate act that undermines democratic principles. The party emphasized that INEC had been fully involved in its governorship primaries, attending and monitoring the process before issuing reports that confirmed full compliance with electoral laws.
According to the PDP, INEC initially provided the necessary nomination portal codes, allowing access to official forms. However, the commission allegedly blocked these codes just days before the submission deadline, forcing the party to submit manually—a process that INEC acknowledged receiving.
“Being fully aware of the grave and far-reaching consequences of excluding a validly nominated candidate from an election, INEC ought to have acted with caution and responsibility by including the name of Dr. Oluwole Oluyede,” the party stated. It highlighted that no competing claims or court orders exist to dispute Oluyede’s nomination, and INEC’s own reports validate the process.
The PDP has already initiated legal steps to compel INEC to rectify the omission, warning that the commission’s actions could erode public trust in the electoral system. “We once again draw the attention of INEC to the expectations of Nigerians that the Commission must remain independent, impartial, and neutral,” the statement read, adding a cautionary note: “While we acknowledge the saying that he who pays the piper dictates the tune, the Commission must be conscious that the tune currently being dictated is dangerously high-pitched and will ultimately harm the piper.”
The party urged INEC to prioritize democracy over any perceived antagonism, stressing the need for fairness in handling political affairs.
