CLAIM: An X user @OyoNews1 claims (archived here) that 13 political parties were cleared by INEC. A similar claim was found on Facebook.
FINDINGS: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), and DUBAWA’s publications reveal there were 14 candidates cleared by INEC to contest for the top political seat in Ekiti State.
However, Joseph Anifowose of the Allied Peoples Movement party, in May 2026, declared support for the current governor, Abiodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress party. Victor Adetunji of the Zenith Labour Party also stepped down in support of the APC candidate on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Meanwhile, INEC has included the Social Democratic Party’s candidate, Peter Obafemi, in the governorship race, despite its leadership crisis. INEC, Ekiti State, told the Nigerian Fact-Checking Coalition that despite the inclusion, there is no updated official list reflecting the new development.
Consequently, only 13 candidates are currently in the race.
VERDICT: Correct.
SOURCE: INEC, DUBAWA, Arise News, The Nation
DATE: June 19, 2026
FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Cole Praise
EDITORS: Lois Ugbede, Opeyemi Kehinde, and Simbiat Bakare