The Court of Appeal (Nigeria) sitting in Akure has confirmed Dr. Wole Oluyede as the valid governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2026 election in Ekiti State. The court ruled on Thursday that the party’s primary election that produced Oluyede was conducted properly and followed the required rules.

The three-member panel led by Justice Peter Chudi Obiorah overturned an earlier decision by the Federal High Court (Nigeria) in Ado-Ekiti. The lower court had previously cancelled the PDP governorship primary held in November 2025.

According to the appellate court, the primary organised by the party’s National Working Committee under Kabiru Tanimu Turaki complied with the party constitution and the Electoral Act. The judges said the process was lawful, transparent and valid.

With this ruling, the legal dispute over the party’s candidate has been settled. The decision now clears the way for the PDP to move forward with Oluyede as its official flagbearer in the 2026 Ekiti governorship race.