The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, Wole Oluyede, on Tuesday formally withdrew the petition he filed before the Election Petition Tribunal challenging the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The tribunal, at its first sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, struck out the petition following the motion of withdrawal filed by the PDP flag bearer before the three-member panel of judges led by Abubakar Idris Kutigi.
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Other members of the panel are Aminu Tukur and Maurice Okediya.
Paul Komolafe, counsel to the PDP and Mr Oluyede had moved a motion to withdraw the petition from the tribunal.
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Counsel to Mr Oyebanji and the APC, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sulaiman Ibrahim, did not oppose the motion of the petitioners (Oluyede and PDP) to withdraw the petition.
Mr Oyebanji was declared the winner of the Ekiti governorship poll by INEC after polling a total of 319,224 votes, with Oluyede garnering 40,543 votes.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dare Bejide, came third with 12,872 votes.
Speaking with journalists after the petition he filed was struck out by the tribunal consequent upon his request, Mr 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 Tinubu.
He also explained that Mr Oyebanji, following his victory at the polls, extended a hand of fellowship to him. He declared his readiness to join hands with the governor to ensure a resounding victory for Mr Tinubu in Ekiti at the forthcoming presidential election.
“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 remain 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,” Mr Oluyede said.
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Tribunal fixes date for SDP, AA petitions
Meanwhile, the tribunal has adjourned its sitting to Thursday for ruling on the pre-hearing report by parties in the case. It also fixed Monday, September 14, for the hearing of the substantive petitions filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Isaac Alade and Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate, Matthew Omotoso.
The two parties and their candidates, represented by their counsel, Nnamdi Ikpeazu, are challenging INEC’s return of Mr Oyebanji as the winner of the governorship election.
Mr Alade polled 179 votes while Mr Omotoso obtained 126 votes at the governorship election.
Mr Kutigi advised the petitioners’ counsel to ensure that the respondents are served in good time and also to bring the witnesses to court on Monday for the commencement of the hearing of the petition.
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