The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee for the Ekiti governorship election has cleared three aspirants, including incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji, to participate in the party’s primary. Chaired by Tunji Olawuyi, the committee announced its decision after reviewing the nomination forms and expressions of interest submitted by four governorship hopefuls.
According to the committee’s report, Oyebanji and Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo satisfied all constitutional and party requirements, making them eligible to contest in the primary. Kayode Ojo received provisional clearance, pending a final decision by the APC National Working Committee (NWC). The referral was prompted by petitions alleging that Ojo failed to meet the mandatory threshold of five valid nominators per local government area.
The committee’s decision was guided by Article 9(1) of the APC Constitution, which stipulates that only registered and financially up‑to‑date members have the right to vote and be voted for. Consequently, Abimbola Olajumoke Olawumi was disqualified for lacking evidence that she is a financially up‑to‑date member, as required by the party’s constitution.
The APC primary election is scheduled for next month, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set June 20, 2026, for the Ekiti governorship poll. The screening committee’s ruling is a crucial step in the electoral process, determining which aspirants will compete for the party’s ticket. The primary is expected to be closely contested, and the winner will likely enjoy a significant advantage in the subsequent governorship election.
With the screening process complete, attention now turns to the primary, where the cleared aspirants will vie for the APC nomination. The eventual nominee will face opposition from other parties in the June 2026 governorship poll, making the upcoming elections in Ekiti State a highly anticipated event on Nigeria’s political calendar.
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