A mild drama unfolded at the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Ado-Ekiti on Monday as the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, Ambassador Isaac Adedayo Alade, withdrew his petition challenging the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
Alade, who was the SDP candidate in the June 20, 2026 governorship election, discontinued the case despite the position of the party, which insisted that it would continue with the petition.
The development came as another drama played out during the proceedings when an SDP agent and witness, Toluwalope Oluwandabira, reportedly struggled to identify the name of the party’s governorship candidate when questioned during the trial.
At the tribunal’s inaugural sitting last Monday, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate and runner-up in the election, Dr Wole Oluyede, had similarly withdrawn his petition challenging Oyebanji’s victory.
The tribunal subsequently struck out the petition.The three-member tribunal is chaired by Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, with Justice Aminu Tukur and Justice Maurice Okediya as members.
SDP candidate withdraws petition
During Monday’s proceedings, counsel to Alade, the second petitioner, Barrister Umar Abdulhamid, informed the tribunal that he had filed a Motion on Notice dated September 12, 2026, notifying the court of his client’s decision to discontinue the petition.
Counsel to the SDP, Adewole Adebayo, expressed surprise at the development, describing the withdrawal as an ambush because he was not aware of the candidate’s intention to discontinue the case.
However, Adebayo said he would not oppose the application, arguing that Alade’s withdrawal would not prevent the party from pursuing the petition.
In his ruling, Justice Kutigi granted the application and ordered that the name of the second petitioner be struck out of the petition.
The judge said the tribunal had considered the Motion on Notice seeking the withdrawal of the second petitioner and consequently granted the application.
Speaking after the ruling, Adebayo, who is also the SDP presidential candidate, said the party would continue with the case despite Alade’s decision.
He said, “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.”Oyebanji’s lawyer backs withdrawalCounsel to Governor Oyebanji and the second respondent, Adetunji Oso, said he would not oppose the application, noting that the candidate was exercising his legal right under the Electoral Act, 2026.
Oso also dismissed suggestions that petitioners were withdrawing their cases because of coercion or intimidation.He maintained that Oyebanji, as the Chief Security Officer of Ekiti State, would not interfere with the tribunal or take any action capable of undermining the judicial process.
Tribunal hears SDP witnesses
Meanwhile, the SDP called seven witnesses in an attempt to establish its case after the tribunal returned from a 30-minute recess to allow the party to assemble its witnesses.
One of the witnesses, Odabira Olumuyiwa, reportedly gave evidence that generated controversy after stating that he served as an agent at Ward 2, Unit 007, in Ikole Local Government Area without wearing the Independent National Electoral Commission identification tag required under the Electoral Act, 2026.
Another witness, Bamisaye Julius, alleged that he witnessed people sharing money during the election.
However, under questioning, he was unable to establish the exact amount of money allegedly distributed or identify the individuals responsible for the alleged vote buying.
Similarly, another SDP witness, Awoleye Sunday Samuel, told the tribunal that there were skirmishes among supporters of competing political parties at the polling unit where he served as an agent.
He, however, clarified that the incidents did not prevent the election from being successfully conducted.AA witness gives evidenceThe tribunal also heard evidence relating to a petition filed by the Action Alliance.
The party’s chairman and state collation agent, Elder Sunday Ajayi, said during cross-examination that he was not issued an appointment letter to serve as the party’s election collation agent.
He, however, maintained that he received the mandate from the party to perform the role, describing himself as the number one party official in the state.After the SDP called seven witnesses, its counsel requested a short adjournment.
The application was not opposed by lawyers representing the respondents and was subsequently granted by the tribunal.
Oyebanji’s lawyer urges tribunal to avoid delayCounsel to Governor Oyebanji urged the tribunal to ensure that proceedings are not unnecessarily delayed, stressing that election petitions are time-sensitive matters.
Oso urged the panel to impress upon the petitioners the need to present witnesses who could provide evidence based on their specific roles during the election.
He said the respondents should not be made to wait unnecessarily while the petitioners organise their witnesses.“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 said.
