A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary conducted ahead of the 2026 election and ordered the party to hold a fresh primary.
Justice Babs Kuewumi, in a ruling delivered on Tuesday, upheld allegations of irregularities raised by one of the aspirants, Prince Funso Ayeni, against the conduct of the exercise.
Ayeni had approached the court, alleging that the approved delegate list was manipulated on the day of the primary, a development he said undermined transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.
In its judgment, the court held that there was a gross abuse of process and a clear violation of the PDP’s electoral guidelines, adding that the breaches were inconsistent with the party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Reacting to the ruling, the PDP South-West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sanya Atofarati, said the party would explore all legal options, including an appeal, describing the judgment as not final.
Atofarati expressed confidence in the party’s legal team and insisted that the ruling would not disrupt preparations for the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
He said the PDP had already inaugurated its campaign committee and commenced grassroots mobilisation across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State in support of its candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede.
According to him, the primary election was free and fair and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the court case as part of a wider plot against the party.
Atofarati maintained that the PDP remains focused and undistracted, stressing that mobilisation efforts are ongoing from the unit and ward levels to all parts of the state.