The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday released the final list of candidates and running mates for the June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti State, leaving out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede and his running mate’s name.

Apart from the Young Peoples Party (YPP), which replaced its candidate and the running mate, there were no significant changes from the provisional list released by the electoral body on December 29, 2025.

The YPP replaced its candidate and running mate, Mr Owoola Daramola and the running mate, Opeyemi Adeyemo, with Osinkolu Olusegun Ayodele and Arowolo David Olusesan ,respectively.

A check at the INEC state headquarters located along the new Iyin-Ekiti road, in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Monday, showed that the names and particulars of the PDP and SDP candidates were missing among the 12 candidates displayed by the commission.

According to sources in INEC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the ongoing national crisis in the PDP, which has resulted in two factions laying claim to the party’s leadership and a series of litigations filed in court, is responsible for the omission.

The following are the Ekiti 2026 Gov Candidates and their deputies; Accord Party – Opeyemi Falegan (41), Omoyemi Olaleye (42); African Action Congress – Akande Oluwasegun (36), Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; Action Democratic Party – Ayodeji Ojo (42), Itunu Ibitoye (35); and African Democratic Congress (ADC) – Oluwadare Bejide (66), Paul Olowoyeye (52).

Others are the All Progressives Congress (APC) – Biodun Oyebanji (58), Monisade Afuye (67); Action People’s Party – Bidemi Awogbemi (36), Akinyemi Adewumi (53); and Allied People’s Movement – Joseph Anifowose (65), Margaret Ilesanmi (68).

Others included the Labour Party (LP) Oyebanji Olajuyin (67), Ayokunle Okumade (45), New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) Blessing Abegunde (35), Francis Ajayi (65)

Other candidates include People’s Redemption Party (PRP) Olaniyi Ayodele (49) and Modupe Adebiyi (35); Young Progressive Party (YPP) Osinkolu Olusegun Ayodele and Arowolo David Olusesan; and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) Victor Adetunji (38) and Adesina Oyeniyi (35).

Meanwhile, the PDP candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, has insisted he will participate in the June 20 election, saying the court will vindicate him.

A statement by the spokesman for Oluyede said that, since the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, has approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking an order of mandamus to compel INEC to publish his name.

“The case comes up in Abuja this week, and we believe as a party that the court will compel INEC to publish the name of Dr Wole Oluyede as the duly elected candidate of the PDP.

“The court has compelling power over INEC, which Ekiti State will not be the first to experience this.

“With these developments, we are assuring members of the PDP and Ekiti people to remain calm and continue to be abreast of the situation as we expect favourable judgments.”

Meanwhile, the name of the Social Democratic Party candidate, David Bankole, is also not on the provisional and final list released by the electoral commission.