The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal set Nov. 20 for parties to adopt written addresses in two challenges to Gov. Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election, Premium Times reported Oct. 27. The report gave no date for a ruling.
Premium Times identified the petitioners as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Action Alliance (AA). Oyebanji’s lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, told the tribunal his client would call no witnesses and asked the panel to close the governor’s case, the report said.
Ikpeazu also tendered certified true copies of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Forms EC8D and EC8E, as well as a receipt for the copies, according to Premium Times. Premium Times characterized EC8D as a state-level compilation of local government totals and EC8E as the official result sheet. The panel accepted the records as exhibits after no party objected, the outlet reported.
INEC’s lawyers also tendered certified true copies of both forms and concluded the commission’s cases in the two petitions, Premium Times reported. The petitioners had completed their cases on Oct. 22. Before the Nov. 20 session, the tribunal directed the parties to submit their written addresses and replies, according to the report.
INEC’s portal lists June 20, 2026, as the date of the Ekiti governorship election. The Ekiti State Government said Oyebanji won 319,224 votes and received his Certificate of Return from INEC on June 23.
