On Monday, January 19, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the final list of candidates for the upcoming June 20, 2026, governorship election.Two primary opposition parties—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP)—were conspicuously missing from the cleared list.
For the first time in the state’s recent democratic history, a governorship race in Ekiti may proceed without its most prominent opposition contenders. The final list, signed by INEC National Commissioner Rose Oraran-Anthony, features 12 political parties, but the exclusion of the “Big Two” opposition giants has shifted the odds heavily in favor of the incumbent.
According to INEC sources and recent legal filings, the exclusion stems from unresolved internal leadership crises and the failure to conduct valid primaries that meet the requirements of the Electoral Act 2022.PDPhas been plagued by a “delegate list manipulation” scandal and a split between two warring factions in the state. Despite attempts to resolve disputes in late 2025, no unified candidate was recognized by the commission.Following the 2022 run by Segun Oni, the SDP has been rocked by national-level leadership disputes, including the emergence of a “third faction” and allegations of financial misconduct that paralyzed the party’s ability to submit a legal nomination.
Key cleared candidates include:
| Party | Governorship Candidate | Deputy Candidate |
| APC | Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (Incumbent) | Monisade Afuye |
| Labour Party | Olajuyin Ikusayede Gbegbe Oyebanji | Okumade Ayokunle Odumayo |
| NNPP | Abegunde Ayobami Blessing | John Fajuyigbe Oluwasanmi |
| ADC | Bejide Oluwadare Patrick | (Various) |
| PRP | Ayodele Olaniyi Olanrewaju Praise | Ogidan Tolulope |
Governor Biodun Oyebanji (APC), aged 58, now faces a significantly less crowded field as he seeks a second term, though the Labour Party (LP) and NNPP are expected to pick up the votes of the “disenfranchised” opposition.
The PDP has already signaled its intent to approach the Federal High Court to compel INEC to include its candidate, Dr. Bisi Oluyede.
Party spokesmen argue that the exclusion is a “threat to democracy” and that internal party matters should not lead to the total disenfranchisement of thousands of Ekiti voters.
Potential Impacts on the June 20 Election:
- Low Voter Turnout: Without the PDP and SDP on the ballot, many traditional opposition voters may stay home.
- Rise of “Third Forces”: Parties like the Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) now have a rare opportunity to capture the anti-incumbency vote.
- Judicial Uncertainty: If a court rules in favor of the PDP or SDP just weeks before the election, it could lead to a postponement or a chaotic “last-minute” inclusion.
The road to the Ekiti 2026 Governorship Election is now paved with legal uncertainty. For the APC, it is an opportunity to consolidate power; for the PDP and SDP, it is a desperate race against the judicial clock
