PDP’s Oluyede withdraws petition challenging Oyebanji’s victory, cites appeals from dignitaries

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, Wole Oluyede, has withdrawn his petition challenging the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress.

Oluyede’s decision was formally presented before the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, prompting the three-member panel to strike out the petition.

The petitioner’s counsel, Paul Komolafe, moved the application for withdrawal, which was not opposed by counsel representing Oyebanji, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Explaining his decision after the proceedings, Oluyede said he withdrew the petition following appeals from people he described as important to him, including President Bola Tinubu and some of his advisers.

Oluyede said the decision was aimed at moving Ekiti and Nigeria forward, acknowledging that it was difficult to withdraw a petition when he believed he had a strong case.

He, however, maintained that he remained a member of the PDP, adding that Oyebanji had also reached out to him for cooperation toward the 2027 presidential election and the development of Ekiti.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Oyebanji the winner of the June 20 election with 319,224 votes, while Oluyede polled 40,543 votes to finish second and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Dare Bejide, came third with 12,872 votes.

Meanwhile, the tribunal adjourned proceedings in two other petitions challenging Oyebanji’s victory to September 10 and 14, respectively, with petitions filed by candidates of the Social Democratic Party and Action Alliance scheduled for substantive hearing.