*PDP Reaffirms Oluyede As Candidate, Appeals Court Verdict Nullifying Primaries
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Monday, January 19, released the final list of candidates and their running mates for the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Wole Oluyede, and his running mate missing.
In the same vein, names of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, David Bankole, and his running mate were also missing.
A sources told Premium Times that the ongoing leadership crisis in the PDP and resultant factionalisation, as well as outstanding litigations was responsible for the omission.
Oluyede has insisted that he would participate in the election, saying that court would vindicate his candidacy.
In a statement by his spokesperson, he said since judiciary is the last hope of common man, he has approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking an order of mandamus to compel INEC to publish his name.
“The case comes up in Abuja this week and we believe, as a party, that the court will compel INEC to publish the name of Oluyede as the dully elected candidate of the PDP.
“The court has compelling power over INEC, which Ekiti State will not be the first to experience this.
“With these developments, we are assuring members of the PDP and Ekiti people to remain calm and continue to be abreast of the situation as we expect favourable judgements.”
On its part, PDP in the state reiterated that Oluyede remained its duly nominated governorship candidate for the election and has gone to the appeal court over his candidature.
The party said a notice of appeal and stay of execution has been filed against the recent judgment of the Federal High Court nullifying its primaries, insisting that the status quo remains.
A statement by Director of Media and Communication of the Ekiti PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Sanya Atofarati, stressed that internal democracy, freedom of expression and fair contestation were the hallmarks of the PDP.
