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A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria, has removed Dr Wole Oluyede as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate and ordered a fresh primary election.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Babs Kuewumi upheld allegations of irregularities raised by Prince Funso Ayeni, who challenged the conduct of the primary. Ayeni argued that party officials manipulated the approved delegate list on the day of the election, thereby undermining transparency, internal democracy and fairness.
The court agreed, holding that the exercise amounted to a gross abuse of process and a clear breach of electoral guidelines. It ruled that the violations ran contrary to the PDP’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which binds all persons and institutions.
Reacting to the judgment, the PDP South-West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Sanya Atofarati, said the party would appeal the decision, expressing confidence that its legal team would act promptly.
He insisted that the ruling would not disrupt the party’s preparations for the forthcoming election, noting that the campaign committee had already been constituted and grassroots mobilisation was ongoing across Ekiti State ahead of the 20 June governorship poll.
Atofarati described the suit as a conspiracy against the party and its candidate, maintaining that the primary was free and fair, as observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the judgment should be seen as only the first stage of the judicial process and stressed that the PDP remained resolute. According to him, the party has already begun mobilisation from unit to unit, ward to ward, and across all 16 local government areas of the state, adding that it would not be distracted by the court ruling.
