• PDP, SDP missing in final list of candidates, YPP replaces flagbearer
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), yesterday, dissociated from a planned protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), reportedly scheduled for today, January 20, 2026, in Abuja and across states of the federation.
 
This was as INEC released the final list of candidates and running mates for the June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti State, leaving out the names of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Wole Oluyede, and his running mate.  Also, the name of SDP’s David Bankole is not on the provisional and final lists released by INEC.
 
NNPP also urged its members nationwide to remain calm and focused despite what it described as deliberate provocations aimed at distracting the NNPP from its objectives.
 
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bamofin Johnson, the party described the planned demonstration as illegal and disowned the individuals behind it.
 
Johnson said the NNPP was not involved in the protest, which he noted was being organised by an “illegal body” falsely claiming to act on behalf of the party.
 
He said: “These persons behind this illegal protest are not members of the party as established by the Federal High Court in Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/1354/2024 of April 18, 2024, where Justice Emeka Nwite affirmed that they have ceased to be members of the Party following their expulsion by the appropriate organs of the party.

“Till today, they have not appealed the judgment; instead, they engage in forum shopping, looking for orders that have no foundations in law!”
 
The party called on its members to remain calm even in the face of provocations by elements planning to distract the party from its stated objectives.

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.
 
YPP replaced its candidate, Owoola Daramola, and the running mate, Opeyemi Adeyemo, with Osinkolu Ayodele and Arowolo Olusesan.
 
A check at the INEC state headquarters along the new Iyin-Ekiti road, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, showed that the names and particulars of the PDP and SDP candidates were missing among the 12 candidates displayed by the commission.
 
According to INEC sources, the ongoing national crisis in the PDP, which has resulted in two factions laying claim to the party’s leadership, with a series of litigations filed at the courts, is responsible for the omission.
 
Meanwhile, Oluyede has insisted that he would participate in the June 20 election, saying the court would vindicate him.
 
His spokesman said since the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, Oluyede 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 his name as the duly elected candidate of the PDP.