The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has upheld the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Ekiti State, affirming Dr. Wole Oluyede as the party’s candidate for the 2026 governorship poll.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, March 12, a three-member panel of the appellate court overturned an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, which had nullified the primary election.
The panel, led by Justice Peter Chudi Obiorah and comprising Justices Jane Esienanwan Inyang and Peter O. Affen, ruled that the primary election conducted by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) complied with the PDP constitution and the Electoral Act.
The justices held that the process was properly conducted and met the legal requirements guiding party primaries.
The decision followed an appeal filed by the PDP after the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti nullified the party’s governorship primary election held on November 8 and 9, 2025.
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The lower court had delivered the ruling on January 13, 2026, prompting the party to challenge the verdict at the appellate court.
After reviewing the appeal, the Court of Appeal allowed the application and set aside the earlier judgment, declaring that the primary election was validly conducted.
The ruling effectively resolves the legal dispute that had surrounded the PDP’s governorship candidate in Ekiti State.
By affirming the validity of the Turaki-led process, the court’s decision clears the path for Oluyede to fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming governorship election.
The judgment is also expected to stabilise the party’s preparations for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship contest, following months of internal disputes over the primary election.