By Charles Maduka
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Wole Oluyede, has accused the All Progressives Congress of being behind his exclusion from the provisional list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the forthcoming governorship election.
Speaking at his residence in Ikere-Ekiti, Oluyede said his omission came as a surprise, noting that his emergence as the PDP candidate was conducted under the supervision of INEC. He insisted that officials of the electoral body monitored the party primary that produced him as the flagbearer.
The PDP candidate said although there were legal challenges against the party’s primary election, INEC officials had sworn affidavits in court confirming that he was the duly elected candidate. He added that there was no court injunction or order preventing him or his party from participating in the election.
Oluyede further argued that INEC does not have the constitutional power to decide who emerges as a party’s nominee. He said he had begun consultations with party leaders and would formally engage the electoral body to demand explanations for his exclusion. He also reassured his supporters across the state not to panic, expressing confidence that his name would appear on the final ballot.
Reacting, Ekiti State APC Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, dismissed the allegation, describing it as baseless and an attempt to divert attention from internal crises within the PDP. He said the ruling party had no control over INEC and advised Oluyede to seek legal redress rather than making accusations against political opponents.
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