By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
A Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct a fresh governorship primary election to select its candidate for the forthcoming election.
Justice Babs Kuewumi gave the order after nullifying the party’s governorship primaries held on November 8, in which Dr Wole Oluyede was declared winner.
The court’s decision followed a suit filed by one of the aspirants in the primary, Funso Ayeni, who challenged the conduct of the exercise on grounds of non-compliance with the party’s constitution, guidelines and the Electoral Act.
Ayeni, through his counsel, Kola Kolade (SAN), approached the court in a suit marked FHC/AD/CS/29/2025, seeking the cancellation of the primary election. He argued that the PDP failed to present the original and authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates used for the exercise.
According to the plaintiff, the absence of the original delegates’ list amounted to a fundamental breach of the PDP guidelines and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, thereby rendering the entire primary election invalid.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Kuewumi upheld Ayeni’s claims, holding that the conduct of the primary election did not comply with the provisions of the law and the party’s constitution.
“The conduct of the primary election did not comply with the provisions of the law and the party’s constitution,” the judge ruled.
“Consequently, the primary election is hereby nullified,” he declared.
Justice Kuewumi further ordered the PDP, in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct a fresh governorship primary election in strict compliance with the law and relevant party guidelines.
The court also directed that all eligible aspirants be allowed to participate in the fresh primary to ensure transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Dr Oluyede, Owoseni Ajayi, expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, announcing that his client would appeal the decision.
Ajayi added that Oluyede would also file an application for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal.
The ruling comes amid controversy surrounding the PDP’s governorship ticket, following the exclusion of Oluyede’s name from the list of candidates for the June 20 governorship election published by INEC on December 29.
Oluyede had earlier vowed to challenge his exclusion and explore all available legal options to ensure that his name is restored to the list of candidates, insisting that he remains eligible to contest and win the election.
