Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti, Dr Wole Oluyede, has formally withdrawn the petition he filed before the Election Petition Tribunal challenging the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oyebanji was declared winner of the Ekiti governorship poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling a total of 319,224 votes, with Oluyede garnering 40,543 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Ambassador Dare Bejide, came distant third with 12,872 votes.
The Tribunal, at its inaugural sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, struck out the petition following the motion of withdrawal filed by the PDP flag bearer before the three-member panel of judges led by Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi. Other members of the panel are Justice Aminu Tukur and Justice Maurice Okediya.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Kutigi, subsequently struck out Oluyede’s petition in line with the wish of the petitioner, whose motion to withdraw the petition had earlier been moved by his counsel, who also represented the PDP, Mr Paul Komolafe.
Counsel to Governor Oyebanji and APC, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Sulaiman Ibrahim, did not oppose the motion of the petitioners (Oluyede and PDP) to withdraw their petition from the Tribunal.
Speaking with reporters after the petition he filed was struck out by the Tribunal consequent upon his request, Oluyede said his action was predicated on the appeal made to him by individuals he described as ‘important people’ and out of respect for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Oluyede also explained that Oyebanji, following his victory at the polls, extended a hand of fellowship to him, declaring his readiness to join hands with the Governor to ensure a resounding victory for Tinubu in Ekiti at the forthcoming presidential election.
According to him, ‘My decision (to withdraw the petition) was based on the fact that what Ekiti and Nigeria need now is to seek the way forward. 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 the President and several advisers.
‘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. We have a lot of things to do in Ekiti, and it will take the efforts of everybody. It shouldn’t be a partisan thing.
‘I am a member of PDP and still remains a member of PDP and we have an election in January for President Tinubu. The Governor 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.’
However, the Tribunal has adjourned its sitting to Thursday, September 10, for ruling on the pre-hearing report by the parties in the case, and Monday, September 14, for the hearing of the substantive petitions filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Mr Isaac Adebayo Alade, and Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate, Mr Matthew Olu Omotoso.
The two parties and their candidates, who were represented by their counsel, Dr Nnamdi Ikpeazu, are challenging the return of Oyebanji as the winner of the governorship election by INEC.
The SDP candidate, Alade, polled 179 votes while the AA candidate, Omotoso, obtained 126 votes at the governorship election.
Justice Kutigi advised the petitioners’ counsel to ensure that the respondents are served in good time and also bring the witnesses to court on Monday for the commencement of hearing of the petition.
The Tribunal subsequently adjourned till Thursday (September 10) for ruling on the direction (pre-hearing report) and Monday (September 14) for the substantive petitions in the two cases filed by the SDP, AA and their candidates.