PDP Candidate Explains Withdrawal of Ekiti Election Tribunal Petition

Dr Wole Oluyede, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the June 20 Ekiti State governorship election, has said his decision to withdraw his petition challenging the outcome of the poll was informed by national interest and the need to protect the country’s broader political stability.

Oluyede stated during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday that his action should not be seen as an endorsement of the conduct of the election but a sacrifice to promote political stability ahead of the 2027 general election.

The decision, he said, was taken after careful reflection on the implications of protracted litigation and added that national interest should be put above personal or party considerations.

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Oluyede also promised to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and urged political stakeholders not to take Ekiti State for granted.

He said the outcome of the governorship election demonstrated the importance of grassroots mobilisation, saying electoral victories should not be assumed despite the dominance of any political party in the state.

He said he thought there were grounds to challenge the election results but decided to drop the tribunal case after weighing its potential impact on the country’s political stability and democratic process.

Oluyede urged political leaders across board to put national interest above party interest, noting that democracy would be deepened through responsible leadership and constructive engagement rather than prolonged litigation.