Court Rejects SDP Bid to Move Ekiti Election Tribunal From Ado-Ekiti

The Social Democratic Party continues to challenge the outcome of the 2026 Ekiti governorship election before the state’s Election Petition Tribunal.

The party’s legal action remains active despite the earlier decision by its governorship candidate, Isaac Adedayo Alade, to withdraw his individual petition.

The tribunal granted Alade’s application and struck his name out of the case.

The SDP, however, continued with its own petition against the election result.

The latest proceedings have been affected by a separate dispute over the safety and location of the tribunal.

SDP counsel Ebenezer Akinbuli sought a relocation of the proceedings from Ado-Ekiti following an alleged assault.

The request was referred to the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.

When the tribunal resumed on September 23, Justice Abubakar Kutigi announced that the Court of Appeal President had declined the request to transfer the proceedings.

The tribunal chairman said the panel remained properly constituted to hear the case.

However, SDP counsel was absent during the sitting.

Another letter seeking an adjournment was reportedly served on the tribunal pending the resolution of the venue-related issue.

The tribunal then adjourned the matter until September 24.

The proceedings have previously experienced delays connected to the presentation of witnesses.

Justice Kutigi had criticised the petitioners’ legal team over difficulties in producing witnesses and urged counsel to organise the case properly.

The latest development means the petition remains before the tribunal while procedural issues continue to be addressed.

The respondents, including the APC and INEC, are participating in the proceedings through their respective legal representatives.

The APC and Governor Biodun Oyebanji are defending the result declared after the 2026 governorship election.

The tribunal will ultimately consider the evidence and legal arguments presented by the parties in determining the petition.

The next sitting is expected to focus on moving the case forward after the Court of Appeal declined the relocation request.