Court nullifies Ekiti PDP gov’ship primary

A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has nullified the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State and ordered the conduct of a fresh exercise.

In his ruling, Justice Babs Kuewumi declared the primary, which produced Dr Wole Oluyede as the winner, invalid, holding that the exercise did not comply with the provisions of the law and the party’s constitution, particularly due to the absence of original delegates’ lists.

Justice Kuewumi ordered the PDP, in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct a fresh governorship primary in strict compliance with the law and relevant guidelines.

The judge further directed that all eligible aspirants be allowed to participate in the new primary to ensure transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.

Prince Funso Ayeni, who came second in the disputed primary, had challenged Oluyede’s victory, questioning the validity and authenticity of the statutory and ad hoc delegates’ lists used for the exercise.

Meanwhile, lead counsel to Dr Oluyede, Owoseni Ajayi, said his client would challenge the ruling.

Oluyede, a medical expert, was declared the PDP’s governorship candidate after the primary held on November 8, in which he polled 279 votes to defeat Ayeni, who scored 239. The election was conducted by the PDP National Working Committee, backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

The court ruling marks the second setback for the PDP over the Ekiti governorship primary. INEC had earlier declined to recognise the outcome of the exercise, omitting Oluyede’s name from the list of candidates published last month. The party had threatened legal action over the decision, but INEC maintained its position, citing leadership disputes and pending court cases within the PDP.

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