ADO-EKITI — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, Oluwole Oluyede, has withdrawn his petition challenging the victory of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal subsequently struck out the case at its inaugural sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, following an application by Oluyede and the PDP to discontinue the legal challenge.

UNIOSUN Governance Guided By Law, Not Union Preferences – Osun Govt

Oluyede, who spoke with journalists after the proceedings, said he decided to withdraw the petition following appeals from President Bola Tinubu and several other individuals he described as important to him.

He said his decision was motivated by the need to promote unity and allow political actors to focus on the development of Ekiti State and Nigeria.

“My decision to withdraw the petition was based on the fact that what Ekiti and Nigeria need now is to seek the way forward,” Oluyede said.

‘Tinubu Asked Me To Withdraw’

The PDP candidate acknowledged that withdrawing the petition was not an easy decision because he believed he had a strong case before the tribunal.

According to him, however, appeals from President Tinubu and several advisers influenced his decision to end the litigation.

“It’s not easy to withdraw your petition when you know you have a case, but I took the action at the request of people who are important to me, I mean President Bola Tinubu and several advisers,” he said.

“They have all asked me to withdraw the matter and advised that everybody should come together and let the President win the next election and bring Ekiti forward.”

Oluyede also expressed his intention to support Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election, despite remaining a member of the opposition PDP.

“I am a member of the PDP and remain a member, and we have an election in January for President Tinubu,” he said.

‘Oyebanji Has Extended a Hand of Friendship’

The PDP candidate said the development of Ekiti should not be determined by political affiliations, stressing the need for stakeholders to work together.

“We have a lot of things to do in Ekiti, and it will take the efforts of everybody. It should not be a partisan thing,” he added.

Oluyede also disclosed that Governor Oyebanji reached out to him after the election.

“Governor Oyebanji too has extended a hand of friendship across to me, and we will work together when the election comes and see how things go. It’s just for the betterment of Ekiti and Nigeria,” he said.

Tribunal Strikes Out Petition

Oluyede had approached the tribunal after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oyebanji the winner of the June 20 governorship election.

Before substantive proceedings could begin, however, Oluyede filed an application seeking to withdraw the petition.

His counsel, Paul Komolafe, who also represented the PDP, moved the application before the three-member panel comprising Justices Abubakar Idris Kutigi, Aminu Tukur and Maurice Okediya.

Counsel representing Oyebanji, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the APC and INEC did not object to the withdrawal.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Kutigi, consequently struck out the petition.

Two Other Petitions Remain

Although Oluyede’s legal challenge has come to an end, two other petitions challenging Oyebanji’s victory remain before the tribunal.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Isaac Adebayo Alade, as well as the Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate, Matthew Olu Omotoso, have pending petitions before the election tribunal.

The panel adjourned proceedings until Thursday for a ruling on the pre-hearing report involving the parties.

It also fixed Monday, September 14, 2026, for the commencement of hearing in the substantive petitions.

Justice Kutigi directed lawyers representing the petitioners to ensure that all respondents were properly and promptly served and that their witnesses were available when the substantive hearing begins.

The remaining cases will determine whether the tribunal will uphold or further examine the outcome of the June 20 Ekiti governorship election in which Oyebanji was declared the winner.