The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has protested at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State over the exclusion of two of its senatorial candidates from the commission’s final list for the 2027 general elections.
The protest was led by members and supporters of the NDC alongside activists of the Obedient Movement in the state. The protesters demanded the immediate restoration of the names of Prince Adeyinka Ali, who emerged as the party’s candidate for Ekiti North Senatorial District, and Ayokunle Olusegun, the candidate for Ekiti South Senatorial District.
According to the protesters, both candidates emerged from the NDC senatorial primaries conducted on May 29, 2026, and were subsequently recognised by INEC as the legitimate candidates of the party for their respective senatorial districts.
They expressed concern that despite the earlier recognition, the names of Ali and Olusegun were missing from the final list of candidates released by INEC, describing the development as unacceptable and potentially damaging to the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
The protesters said they were seeking clarification from the electoral commission and, more importantly, wanted the candidates who emerged through the party’s primary process restored to the official list.
Speaking on behalf of Olusegun, Adediji Segun said the purpose of the protest was to draw INEC’s attention to what he described as an unjustified exclusion of the two candidates.
He argued that the candidates had contributed significantly to the development and activities of the party and questioned why their names would be removed after they had successfully participated in the primary election and were previously recognised by the electoral commission.
“We want INEC to integrate their names back to the lists. They are the financiers of the party and one person cannot just wake up one day and be deciding for us. We don’t want that,” Segun said.
The protesters maintained that internal party decisions should not be allowed to override the outcome of properly conducted primaries, particularly where candidates had already been presented to INEC and recognised by the commission.
The controversy has also attracted the attention of the Obedient Movement in Ekiti State. Its leader, Emmanuel Olamidotun, said the movement would resist what he described as any attempt to deny NDC candidates their legitimate mandates.
Olamidotun called for disciplinary action against David Adesua, whom he accused of being responsible for the development. He described Adesua as a “cancer” within the NDC and demanded his removal from the party.
He also urged the national leadership of the NDC to respect the outcome of the May 29 primary elections and avoid decisions that could create divisions among party members and supporters ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to Olamidotun, INEC had previously confirmed Olusegun and Ali as the NDC candidates for Ekiti South and Ekiti North Senatorial Districts respectively. He therefore questioned the circumstances under which their names disappeared from the final list.
He warned that failure to resolve the issue could generate further disagreement within the party and weaken the confidence of supporters who participated in the primary process.
The NDC Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State, Olawale Olatunde, also expressed concern over the omission of the two candidates.
Olatunde warned that the controversy could have wider implications for the party’s electoral prospects, particularly at a time when political parties are intensifying preparations for the 2027 general elections.
He said the continued exclusion of Ali and Olusegun could undermine the NDC’s ability to mount a strong campaign in Ekiti State and beyond.
“If those names are not returned, Obi should prepare for failure come 2027 general,” he said.
The protesters subsequently called on INEC to urgently review the circumstances surrounding the omission of the two candidates and ensure that the final list reflects the outcome of the party’s primary election.
They argued that allowing candidates who emerged through a recognised primary process to be excluded without a clear explanation could undermine confidence in both internal party democracy and the broader electoral process.
The agitation also highlights the importance of clear procedures in the submission and verification of candidates ahead of a major election. Political parties are expected to resolve internal disputes and ensure that their candidate lists are properly submitted to the electoral commission within the applicable legal and administrative framework.
For the protesters, however, the immediate priority is the restoration of the names of Ali and Olusegun and clarification of how their names came to be omitted from the final list.
Despite the protest, no official of INEC received the demonstrators at the commission’s Ekiti State office. The electoral body had also not issued an official statement addressing the protesters’ demands at the time of the report.
The NDC supporters said they would continue to pursue the matter through appropriate channels until the circumstances surrounding the exclusion of the two senatorial candidates were clarified and, where necessary, corrected.
The development adds another layer to the preparations for the 2027 elections, with the NDC facing the task of resolving the dispute internally while seeking to protect its candidates and maintain unity among its supporters in Ekiti State.
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