The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published its final list of candidates for the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election. The list reveals a significant shakeup, with the state’s upcoming vote poised to be a contest largely between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a field of lesser-known parties.

Notably absent from the approved roster are candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Their exclusion means two of the state’s traditionally strong political forces will not be on the ballot, fundamentally altering the race’s dynamics.

INEC stated this action complies with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the final list to be published at least 150 days before the election. Only the APC and eleven other smaller parties successfully met all requirements for candidate clearance.

The ruling APC, therefore, enters the contest as the clear frontrunner, facing a fragmented opposition of eleven other approved candidates. This development suggests the election could become a direct referendum on the incumbent administration’s performance.

The commission did not immediately specify the reasons for disqualifying the PDP and SDP candidates. Such exclusions typically stem from failures in the submission process, internal party disputes, or legal breaches regarding candidacy.

With the candidate list now settled, the campaign period officially begins, focusing voter attention on the platforms of the twelve cleared parties ahead of the June poll.