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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the June 20, 2026, Ekiti State governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, has withdrawn his petition challenging the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oluyede formally withdrew the petition at the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

Following the withdrawal application moved by his counsel, Paul Komolafe, the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, struck out the petition.

The other members of the panel are Justices Aminu Tukur and Maurice Okediya.

Counsel to Governor Oyebanji and the APC, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, as well as counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sulaiman Ibrahim, did not oppose the application for withdrawal.

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Oluyede explained that his decision was influenced by appeals from people he described as important to him, including President Bola Tinubu and several advisers.

He said the decision was based on the need for stakeholders to focus on the future and work together for the development of Ekiti State and Nigeria.

Oluyede acknowledged that withdrawing the case was not an easy decision, saying he believed he had a case but chose to discontinue the legal battle after consultations.

He also maintained that he remained a member of the PDP, despite expressing support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, Governor Oyebanji had also extended a hand of friendship to him, with both sides expected to work together in the interest of Ekiti State.

The withdrawal brings Oluyede’s legal challenge against the outcome of the governorship election to an end.

INEC had declared Oyebanji the winner of the June 20 election with 319,224 votes, while Oluyede of the PDP came second with 40,543 votes. African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Dare Bejide polled 12,872 votes to finish third.

However, the legal challenge to Oyebanji’s victory has not completely ended, as petitions filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Isaac Adebayo Alade, as well as the Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate, Matthew Olu Omotoso, remain before the tribunal.

The tribunal has fixed September 14 for the commencement of hearing on the substantive petitions filed by the two parties.