Politics
Ekiti guber: PDP missing as INEC publishes names, details of candidates
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the personal particulars and details of governorship candidates contesting the 2026 Ekiti State election.
A visit by a Nigerian Tribune correspondent to the INEC state headquarters along the new Iyin–Ekiti Road in Ado-Ekiti on Monday revealed that the names and particulars of twelve governorship candidates and their respective running mates were conspicuously displayed at the entrance of the electoral umpire’s office.
According to the list made public, the incumbent governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji (58), and his deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye (67), were listed as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the June 20, 2026 election.
Other candidates on the list include those of the Accord Party, Opeyemi Falegan (41) and Omoyemi Olaleye (42); the African Action Congress (AAC), Akande Oluwasegun (36) with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe as running mate; the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Ayodeji Ojo (42) and Itunu Ibitoye (35); the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Oluwadare Bejide (66) and Paul Olowoyeye (52); the Action People’s Party (APP), Bidemi Awogbemi (36) and Akinyemi Adewumi (53); and the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Joseph Anifowose (65) with Margaret Ilesanmi (68).
Also listed were the Labour Party (LP) candidates, Oyebanji Olajuyin (67) and Ayokunle Okumade (45); the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Blessing Abegunde (35) and Francis Ajayi (65); the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Olaniyi Ayodele (49) and Modupe Adebiyi (35); the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Owoola Daramola (54) and Opeyemi Adeyemo (51); as well as the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which presented Victor Adetunji (38) and Adesina Oyeniyi (35).
However, it was observed that the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and his running mate were conspicuously absent from the list released by INEC.
It would be recalled that a renowned medical expert, Dr Wole Oluyede, emerged as the PDP governorship candidate during the party’s primary election held on November 8.
A credible source within INEC told Nigerian Tribune that the omission of the PDP candidate was linked to the lingering leadership crisis at the party’s national headquarters, with two factions laying claim to the party’s leadership.
The source added that the commission was aware of the various litigations in court over the PDP crisis and would not take any action until otherwise directed by the judiciary.
The crisis has split the party into two camps, one led by Aminu Turaki, SAN, and backed by the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, alongside other PDP governors; and the other faction led by Abdulrahman Muhammed, aligned with the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, explained that the release of the names and personal particulars of candidates was in compliance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
He urged voters in the state to visit INEC offices to scrutinise the candidates’ details and make any necessary observations ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
According to the timetable released by the commission, political parties have until January 12, 2026, to replace candidates who withdraw from the race, while the final list of candidates is expected to be published on January 19, 2026.
In a rare political development that has sent shockwaves through Sokoto State, the Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, Isa Kalanjeni, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and simultaneously stepped down from his elected position as council chairman.
The twin resignations were contained in two separate letters made available to journalists in Sokoto on Tuesday.
In a letter dated May 5, 2026, addressed to the APC Ward Chairman of Kalanjeni Ward in Tangaza Local Government, Kalanjeni announced his immediate departure from the ruling party.
I wish to formally inform you of my decision to resign from the APC with immediate effect. This decision is borne out of purely personal reasons. I appreciate the opportunity given to me to be part of the party.”
Resignation from Office
In a separate letter dated July 7, 2026, addressed to the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kalanjeni formally resigned as Executive Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area with immediate effect.
Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning from my position as Executive Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, effective immediately from today.”
Reasons Cited
The embattled chairman explained that the “difficult decision” followed extensive consultations with family, political associates, and community stakeholders.
He also cited administrative constraints, stating:
“Due to recent unavoidable administrative challenges, I find that I am no longer able to execute the responsibilities of this office to the high standard expected of me.”
Despite the abrupt exit, Kalanjeni expressed appreciation to the people of the council:
“I am incredibly grateful to the electorate, the council’s legislative arm, and the entire staff for the privilege and opportunity to serve our people. I wish the incoming leadership and administration continued success.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is on course to meet the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) July 11 deadline for the submission of its presidential and National Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections.
A senior member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the upload of candidates’ details was at an advanced stage, with the details of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate expected to be uploaded by the middle of the week.
“We are progressing smoothly with the uploading of the details of our National Assembly candidates,” the source said.
“We hope that on or before next Wednesday, we shall upload the details of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate. We are completely sure of meeting the July 11 deadline for uploading all our candidates on the INEC portal.”
Checks at the APC’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department at the Muhammadu Buhari House headquarters in Abuja on Sunday indicated that the party’s technical team has continued to interface with the INEC portal without disruption.
Sources in the department said the details of most principal officers of the 10th National Assembly and several serving lawmakers had already been uploaded.
They added that the details of four serving governors — AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State — had also been uploaded to the INEC portal.
The race to meet the deadline followed a review of the party’s primary elections. The APC recently submitted a revised list of candidates to INEC after the NWC removed six senatorial and 19 House of Representatives candidates who had earlier emerged from the party’s May primaries.
The changes affected constituencies in Abia, Kogi, Taraba, Benue, Ebonyi, Ondo, Kaduna, Niger and Kwara states and followed the recommendations of the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The revised list was forwarded to INEC in a letter jointly signed by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the party received more than 700 petitions from aggrieved members after the conclusion of its primaries.
“The party received over 700 petitions from aggrieved members following the conclusion of our shadow elections,” Morka said.
He declined to state when the final list of candidates would be released publicly, saying the party’s immediate focus was to ensure compliance with INEC’s nomination requirements.
“Our absolute immediate priority right now is ensuring that our designated candidates properly complete and return their Form EC9 nomination documents for upload ahead of the strict INEC deadline, rather than focusing on the public release of the list,” he said.
Despite the changes made by the appeal committee, the final list submitted to INEC retained many of the party’s leading figures, including four serving governors who secured the party’s tickets to contest Senate seats in the 2027 general elections.
Lawmaker representing the Nasarawa South Senatorial District, Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, has officially resigned from the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
His resignation was contained in a letter dated July 2, 2026, and addressed to the ADC Ward Chairman in Galadimawa Ward, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The lawmaker attributed his decision to the party’s lingering internal crisis and protracted legal disputes at the national level.
In the letter sighted on Sunday by our correspondent, Onawo said his resignation takes effect from June 15, 2026.
The lawmaker said the persistent internal wrangling and legal battles within the party made it difficult for him to pursue the developmental mandate entrusted to him by the electorate.
“It is driven by my firm belief that the prevailing circumstances within the current party structure and the endless legal battles it is currently embroiled in no longer provide the cohesion, support, and enabling environment for me to focus squarely on effectively representing my constituents and to fully realise the developmental and progressive mandate they entrusted to me,” he said.
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