By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been directed by the Federal High Court in Abuja to reinstate Dr. Wole Oluyede as the valid governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2026 Ekiti State election.
Delivering judgment on Friday, the court nullified the electoral body’s decision to exclude the PDP from the gubernatorial ballot, ruling that the commission acted beyond its legal authority.
The presiding judge, Honourable Justice Umar, upheld the argument put forth by the PDP and its candidate, declaring that INEC exceeded its statutory powers by refusing to publish Oluyede’s name despite his emergence from a properly conducted party primary.
In a decisive interpretation of electoral law, the court affirmed that INEC does not possess the discretionary power to unilaterally disqualify candidates validly submitted by recognised political parties. It stressed that any such rejection must be based on clear legal grounds and cannot be effected through administrative discretion.
To enforce its ruling, the court issued a writ of mandamus—a binding judicial order compelling a public authority to perform its duty. INEC is now legally required to immediately publish and include Dr. Wole Oluyede’s name in the official list of candidates for the Ekiti 2026 governorship election, scheduled for June 20.
The judgment has significantly altered the political equation in Ekiti State, reaffirming the integrity of the PDP’s internal democratic processes while delivering a sharp legal check on INEC’s regulatory authority. With the court having clarified the limits of the commission’s powers, attention now shifts to INEC’s compliance with the order as the 2026 election cycle approaches.
