The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ado-Ekiti has struck out the name of the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, Isaac Adedayo Alade, from the party’s petition challenging the victory of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in the June 20 governorship election.
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The development followed Alade’s decision to withdraw from the petition despite the position of his party, a move that created mild drama during Monday’s proceedings.
Alade’s counsel, Umar Abdulhamid, informed the three-member tribunal that the governorship candidate had filed a Motion on Notice dated September 12, 2026, notifying the panel of his intention to discontinue his participation in the petition.
The application reportedly took counsel to the SDP and first petitioner, Adewole Adebayo, by surprise. Adebayo described the move as an “ambush,” saying he had not been informed beforehand of Alade’s decision.
He, however, declined to oppose the application, maintaining that the withdrawal of the candidate would not prevent the SDP from proceeding with the petition.
In his ruling, the tribunal chairman, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, granted Alade’s application and consequently struck out his name from the petition.
Speaking after the ruling, Adebayo insisted that the SDP would continue to pursue the case.
“If he stands his ground and says he wants to withdraw or discontinue, then we will have no reason to stop him. If he withdraws and decides to go home, he is free. It doesn’t stop us from continuing with the case,” he said.
Counsel to Governor Oyebanji and the second respondent, Adetunji Oso, did not oppose the withdrawal application, arguing that Alade had exercised his legal right under the Electoral Act 2026.
Oso also rejected suggestions that the withdrawal of petitions by opposition candidates was the result of coercion or intimidation, maintaining that the governor would not interfere with proceedings before the tribunal or undermine the administration of justice.
The development came about a week after the tribunal struck out the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Dr Oluwole Oluyede, following his own withdrawal from the case.
Proceedings in the SDP petition also witnessed another dramatic moment when one of the party’s witnesses, Toluwalope Oluwandabira, reportedly struggled to identify the name of the SDP governorship candidate during cross-examination.
Another witness, Odabira Olumuyiwa, who testified concerning his role as an agent at Ward 2, Unit 007 in Ikole Local Government Area, admitted that he did not wear an Independent National Electoral Commission identification tag while monitoring the election.
Bamisaye Julius, another witness who alleged widespread vote buying during the election, told the tribunal that although he saw people sharing money, he could not establish the amount allegedly distributed or identify those responsible.
Awoleye Sunday Samuel also testified that there were skirmishes between supporters of rival political parties at the polling unit where he served as an agent, but acknowledged that the incidents did not prevent the election from being successfully conducted.
The SDP eventually called seven witnesses after the tribunal returned from a 30-minute recess granted to enable the party assemble its witnesses.
In a separate petition filed by the Action Alliance, the party’s chairman and state collation agent, Elder Sunday Ajayi, admitted under cross-examination that he had not been issued a formal appointment letter to act as the party’s collation agent.
Ajayi, however, maintained that he had received the party’s mandate to perform the role because he was its number one member in the state.
Following the testimony of the seven witnesses, counsel to the petitioners sought a short adjournment, which was not opposed by the respondents and was granted by the tribunal.
Oso, however, urged the panel to ensure that the petitioners did not unnecessarily delay proceedings, stressing that election petitions are sui generis and must be determined within the statutory time prescribed by law.
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