A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has nullified the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, ordering the party to conduct a fresh exercise in line with the law.
Delivering judgment, Justice Babs Kuewumi ruled that the primary which produced Dr Wole Oluyede as the party’s flagbearer was invalid, citing non-compliance with legal provisions and the PDP constitution. The court faulted the exercise over the absence of original statutory and ad hoc delegates’ lists, describing the process as fundamentally flawed.
Justice Kuewumi consequently directed the PDP, working alongside the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to organise a new governorship primary strictly in accordance with relevant laws and party guidelines.
The judge further ordered that all qualified aspirants be allowed to participate in the fresh exercise to guarantee transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.
The suit was filed by Prince Funso Ayeni, who came second in the disputed primary. Ayeni had challenged the process that produced Oluyede, questioning the credibility and authenticity of the delegates’ lists used during the exercise.
Reacting to the judgment, Owoseni Ajayi, lead counsel to Dr Oluyede, disclosed that his client would appeal the ruling.
Oluyede, a medical expert, emerged winner of the PDP primary held on November 8 after polling 279 votes to defeat Ayeni, who garnered 239 votes. The exercise was conducted by the PDP National Working Committee with the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
The court verdict represents another major blow to the PDP in its Ekiti governorship bid. The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier refused to recognise the outcome of the primary, omitting Oluyede’s name from the list of governorship candidates released last month.
INEC had maintained that its decision was based on unresolved leadership disputes and pending court cases within the party, despite threats of legal action by the PDP.
