The Independent National Electoral Commission has published the final list of candidates for the June 20, 2026, Ekiti State governorship election, confirming that the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party will not be represented on the ballot. The development significantly alters the political landscape in one of Nigeria’s closely watched off-cycle elections.

The list, released by INEC on Thursday, includes candidates from six political parties. However, the absence of Wole Oluyede of the PDP and David Bankole of the SDP has drawn attention, especially given the historical role of the PDP as a major contender in Ekiti politics.

According to the commission, the final list reflects compliance with existing court judgments and electoral regulations, reinforcing INEC’s position that it will not act outside the law, even when major parties are affected.

Parties and candidates cleared by INEC

The final list published by the electoral umpire features Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, and Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress.

Also cleared are the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, and Bidemi Awogbemi of the Action People’s Party. With these names confirmed, the Ekiti governorship contest will proceed with six candidates, fewer than initially anticipated.

INEC officials said the list marks the conclusion of the candidate nomination process and signals the formal start of full campaign activities ahead of the June election.

Why the PDP candidate was excluded

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The omission of Wole Oluyede from the final list follows a court judgment that has continued to shape the PDP’s fortunes in Ekiti State. INEC had earlier left out Oluyede’s name when it displayed the provisional list of candidates at its Ado-Ekiti office in December 2025.

That decision was based on a ruling delivered on January 13 by a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, which nullified the PDP governorship primary election that produced Oluyede. The court ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary in accordance with the law and the party’s internal guidelines.

Oluyede, a medical practitioner, had emerged as the PDP candidate in November 2025 after polling 279 votes to defeat his closest rival, Funso Ayeni, who scored 239 votes in the primary conducted by the party’s National Working Committee. However, the court held that the process leading to his emergence was flawed, effectively stripping the party of a valid candidate for the election.

SDP also affected by INEC decision

While the PDP’s exclusion has attracted the most attention, the Social Democratic Party also failed to make the final list. David Bankole, who was earlier presented as the SDP’s governorship candidate, was similarly omitted.

INEC did not provide extended details on the SDP’s exclusion in the final notice. However, electoral analysts note that parties must meet strict legal and procedural requirements, including valid primaries and proper documentation, before candidates can be cleared.

PDP’s internal crisis deepens

The setback in Ekiti comes at a time of heightened internal tension within the PDP at the national level. The party has been split into rival factions following disagreements over leadership and the conduct of its national convention.

One faction is backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. The opposing camp is aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Last month, INEC rejected a request to recognise a National Working Committee chaired by Kabiru Turaki, which is supported by Makinde and Mohammed. According to the commission, conflicting court judgments made it impossible to update its records to reflect changes in the PDP’s national leadership.

INEC stated that it would maintain the status quo pending the resolution of cases challenging the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November. That decision has had direct consequences for candidate nominations, including the Ekiti governorship race.

Why the development matters now

With the Ekiti governorship election less than six months away, the exclusion of two parties reshapes the competitive field. For the PDP, the absence of a candidate in a state it has previously governed represents a significant political blow.

Political observers say the development underscores how internal party disputes and unresolved legal battles can directly affect electoral participation. It also highlights the growing influence of the courts in determining the shape of Nigeria’s elections.

For voters, the reduced number of candidates may narrow choices but could also intensify competition among the remaining parties, particularly between the ruling APC and smaller opposition platforms seeking to fill the vacuum left by the PDP.

Implications for the Ekiti contest

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC now heads into the election without facing a PDP challenger on the ballot, a factor analysts say could affect campaign strategies and voter mobilisation.

However, some experts caution that voter sentiment does not always follow party lines, especially in Ekiti, where elections have historically been competitive and sometimes unpredictable. Smaller parties may see an opportunity to attract dissatisfied PDP supporters, potentially reshaping voting patterns.

INEC has reiterated that it will continue to manage the process strictly within the bounds of the law, a stance that suggests any last-minute legal maneuvers by affected parties are unlikely to alter the final list unless backed by clear court orders.

Attention is now expected to shift to campaign activities, voter education, and security preparations ahead of the June 20, 2026, election. Observers will also be watching how the PDP resolves its internal crisis and whether the outcome could influence future off-cycle elections in other states.

Legal analysts note that the Ekiti case could serve as a reference point for how unresolved party disputes are treated by electoral authorities, particularly when timelines leave little room for corrective action.

INEC’s release of the final list of candidates for the Ekiti State governorship election confirms a dramatically altered race, with the PDP and SDP missing from the ballot due to legal and procedural setbacks. As the June 20, 2026, poll draws closer, the focus now turns to how the remaining parties will position themselves and what the episode reveals about the intersection of law, party politics, and electoral administration in Nigeria.