There was mild drama at the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ado Ekiti on Monday after the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) candidate in the June 20 governorship election, Ambassador Isaac Adedayo Alade, withdrew his petition challenging Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s victory.
Alade’s decision reportedly came against the position of the SDP, which has maintained its intention to pursue the case.
The development followed a similar decision by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Oluwole Oluyede, who withdrew his petition at the tribunal’s inaugural sitting last week. His petition was subsequently struck out by the panel.
The three-member tribunal is chaired by Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, with Justice Aminu Tukur and Justice Maurice Okediya as members.
During Monday’s proceedings, counsel to Alade, Barrister Umar Abdulhamid, informed the tribunal that he had filed a Motion on Notice dated September 12, 2026, notifying the panel of his client’s intention to discontinue the petition.
Counsel to the SDP, Adewole Adebayo, expressed surprise at the development, describing the withdrawal as an ambush because the party was not aware of the candidate’s intention.
Adebayo, however, said he would not oppose the application, arguing that Alade’s withdrawal would not prevent the party from continuing with the case.
In his ruling, Justice Kutigi granted the application and ordered that Alade’s name be struck out of the petition.
“The tribunal grants the application, having considered the Motion on Notice of the second petitioner in respect to his intention to withdraw from the petition. His name is hereby struck out of the petition,” the judge ruled.
Adebayo, who is also the SDP presidential candidate, said the party remained determined to prosecute the case despite Alade’s decision.
“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, also said he would not oppose the application, noting that the candidate had exercised his legal right in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026.
Oso also dismissed claims that petitioners were withdrawing their cases because of coercion or intimidation. He said Governor Oyebanji, as the state’s Chief Security Officer, would not interfere with the tribunal’s proceedings or hinder the administration of justice.
Meanwhile, the SDP called seven witnesses during Monday’s proceedings after the tribunal reconvened from a 30-minute break to allow the party to assemble its witnesses.
There was further drama during the cross-examination of one of the witnesses, Toluwalope Oluwandabira, an SDP agent, who reportedly could not identify the name of the party’s candidate despite appearing before the tribunal to give evidence concerning the election.
Another witness, Odabira Olumuyiwa, gave evidence concerning his role as an agent at Ward 2, Unit 007, in Ikole Local Government Area. He told the tribunal that he monitored the election without wearing an Independent National Electoral Commission identification tag as required under the Electoral Act 2026.
Bamisaye Julius, another witness, alleged that he witnessed people sharing money during the election in what he described as vote-buying. However, he said he could not determine the exact amount distributed or identify the individuals responsible.
A further witness, Awoleye Sunday Samuel, said there were skirmishes among supporters at the polling unit where he served as an agent, but clarified that the incidents did not prevent the election from being conducted successfully.
In the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA), the party’s chairman and state collation agent, Elder Sunday Ajayi, also appeared under cross-examination.
Ajayi admitted that he was not issued an appointment letter to oversee the election but said he received the mandate from the party to serve in that capacity as its number-one official in the state.
After the SDP called seven witnesses, counsel to the petitioners requested a short adjournment, which was granted after the respondents’ lawyers raised no objection.
Counsel to Governor Oyebanji subsequently urged the tribunal to ensure that the petitioners did not delay the proceedings, stressing that election petitions were sui generis and should be handled expeditiously.
“My lord, they are hampering us. You have to tell them to present their witnesses who could give evidence based on where they worked during the election timely. We can’t waste the time of the court,” he told the tribunal.
