Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State staged a peaceful protest at the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday to question why their governorship candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede, was removed from the INEC portal. The action drew attention from party officials and supporters, who described the removal as unclear and troubling for transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
The protesters, including representatives from the Inter-Party Advisory Council and other PDP stakeholders, demanded that INEC provide a full explanation for Oluyede’s exclusion, noting that party members were anxious and concerned over the development. The state office of INEC, however, said it could not provide details, stating that only the national headquarters in Abuja could clarify the circumstances surrounding the candidate’s removal.
Dr. Oluyede, who emerged as the PDP flagbearer during the party’s primary supervised by the Turaki-led National Working Committee in November 2025, criticized his exclusion. He noted that INEC had previously supervised and recognized the party’s primary process and that there was no apparent reason for his name to be left out of the official list. The development has created tension among PDP supporters across Ekiti as preparations for the 2026 governorship election continue.