Court Nullifies Ekiti PDP Governorship Primary, Orders Fresh Election

Court Nullifies Ekiti PDP Governorship Primary, Orders Fresh Election
Judge orders fresh primary ahead of 2026 election
PDP insists campaign plans remain on track

A Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, has annulled the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary election conducted for the 2026 governorship poll, ordering the party to organise a fresh primary.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that

In his ruling, Justice Babs Kuewumi upheld claims of irregularities raised by one of the aspirants, Prince Funso Ayeni, who approached the court to challenge the conduct of the primary election.

Ayeni alleged that the approved delegate list was manipulated on the day of the primary, a situation he said compromised transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.

Delivering judgment, the court held that the primary election was characterised by gross abuse of process and a clear disregard for the PDP’s electoral guidelines. Justice Kuewumi stressed that the violations were contrary to both the party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which governs electoral activities in the country.

The ruling represents a major setback for the PDP in Ekiti State, as the party must now conduct a fresh primary ahead of the June 20, 2026, governorship election.

Reacting to the judgment, the South West Zonal Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Sanya Atofarati, said the party would explore all available legal options, including filing an appeal.

“The judgment is not the end of the judicial process. We will explore all available legal options, including appealing this ruling,” Atofarati said.

He insisted that the ruling would not affect the party’s preparations for the election, adding that its campaign activities were already in full motion.

“Despite this setback, the PDP’s preparations for the June 20, 2026, governorship election remain on track. Our campaign machinery is already in full motion,” he said.

Atofarati said the party had inaugurated its campaign committee and intensified grassroots mobilisation across the 16 local government areas of the state in support of its candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede.

He dismissed claims that the court action exposed flaws in the primary process, insisting the election was free, fair and monitored by INEC officials. He added that some aggrieved aspirants had withdrawn their cases, leaving Ayeni as the sole petitioner.