The Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti Division, on Tuesday nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries held on November 8, 2025, in a ruling that has prompted a response from Wole Oluyede, the winner of the exercise.
Naijaonpoint reports that Oluyede, declared the victor in the controversial primary, has announced plans to appeal the judgment.
Justice Babs Kuewumi delivered the ruling after a suit filed by aspirant Funso Ayeni challenged the primary’s conduct, alleging it violated the party’s guidelines and the Electoral Act.
The judge found that the primary did not comply with legal and party guidelines and ordered that a fresh election be conducted to select the PDP’s candidate for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election.
In his judgment, Justice Kuewumi ruled that the PDP had failed to provide the original and authentic list of delegates used in the primary, a critical oversight that he said constituted a fundamental breach of the party’s constitution and the law. The judge emphasised that such a lapse rendered the election invalid.
“The conduct of the primary election did not comply with the provisions of the law and the party’s constitution. Consequently, the primary election is hereby nullified,” Justice Kuewumi said.
The judge further directed the PDP, in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to organize a fresh primary election, ensuring strict adherence to legal and party guidelines.
Justice Kuewumi stated that all eligible aspirants must be allowed to participate in the rerun primary to ensure transparency, fairness, and internal democracy within the party.
“The fresh primary must be conducted in strict compliance with the law, and all eligible aspirants must be allowed to take part,” he stated.
Oluyede To Appeal Judgment
Reacting to the judgment, Oluyede, who had emerged as the winner of the nullified primary, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling. Through his counsel, Owoseni Ajayi, Oluyede confirmed plans to appeal the judgment and seek a stay of execution of the order.
Oluyede, who had previously been excluded from the INEC official list of governorship candidates for the June 20, 2026, election, announced that he would challenge both the court ruling and his exclusion from the list.
He insisted that he will explore all legal avenues to have his name reinstated and to ensure he can participate in the upcoming election.