Court of Appeal, Akure Division, overturned the decision of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, delivered by Hon. Justice Babs Kuewumi on 13th January 2026, which nullified the congress that produced Dr. Olumayokun Oluwole Oluyede as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ekiti.
The appeal, which was lodged by the PDP under the leadership of Kabiru Turaki, SAN, contended that the trial court erred in law when it held that the primaries that produced Dr. Oluyede were not in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic, the Electoral Act, and the PDP Constitution.
The three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Peter Obiorah, Hon. Justice Jane Inyang, and Hon. Justice Peter Affen upheld the appeal and held that the primaries were conducted in substantial compliance with all extant laws relating to PDP primaries, and that the product therefrom was regular and must be granted recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Reacting to the ruling, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP Comrade Ini Ememobong, said: “By this judgment, the candidature of Dr. Olumayokun Oluwole Oluyede, who was given a certificate of return by the Turaki-led PDP, has been validated.
“We encourage all our supporters in Ekiti to double their campaign efforts to ensure that the PDP wins the governorship election and gives to the people of the state the qualitative leadership that our candidate and party offer.