Alade withdraws election petition against Oyebanji, SDP vows to continue

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in the June 20 Ekiti State election, Isaac Alade, has withdrawn his petition challenging Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s victory at the Election Petition Tribunal.

Alade’s lawyer, Umar Abdulhamid, informed the three-member panel on Monday that his client had filed a Motion on Notice dated September 12, seeking to discontinue the case.

The move, however, caught the SDP’s counsel, Adewole Adebayo, off guard, as he told the tribunal that he was unaware of the candidate’s decision and described the withdrawal as an “ambush.”

Despite his objection to the manner of the withdrawal, Adebayo said he would not oppose the application, stressing that Alade’s decision would not prevent the party from pursuing the petition.

The tribunal Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, subsequently granted the application and ordered that Alade’s name be removed from the petition.

Adebayo, who is also the SDP presidential candidate, said the party remained committed to the case, adding that Alade was free to withdraw but could not stop the party from continuing with the legal battle.

Similarly, the counsel to Oyebanji, Adetunji Oso, did not oppose the application, arguing that Alade had exercised his right under the Electoral Act 2026. He dismissed claims that petitioners were being pressured or intimidated into withdrawing their cases.

The development came days after the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Dr. Oluwole Oluyede, also withdrew his petition at the tribunal and was struck out as a petitioner.