SDP denies withdrawing from Ekiti governorship poll

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has vehemently denied circulating reports claiming its withdrawal from the Ekiti State governorship election, labeling the information as fabricated and misleading. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, confirmed on Friday in Abuja that the SDP candidate, Isaac Alade, remains an active contender and is duly recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Aiyenigba assured the public and Ekiti voters that the SDP's name will appear on the ballot. He urged everyone to disregard the "false withdrawal notice" allegedly spread by "political jobbers." The party's National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, and the National Working Committee reaffirmed their commitment to the race, stating that Alade, who has signed the INEC Peace Pact, is strongly in contention.

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The Ekiti electorate and members of the public are hereby assured by the National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, and the National Working Committee that the SDP is on the ballot, and its candidate, Isaac Alade, the validly nominated candidate who signed the INEC Peace Pact, remains strongly in contention for the election.

Adding to the pre-election tension, the SDP expressed serious concerns regarding INEC's alleged refusal to allow the party access to upload the names of its polling unit agents. Despite allegedly receiving access codes, the party claims officials at INEC's national headquarters failed to open the necessary portal. The SDP argues that this deliberate exclusion of agents from a major opposition party undermines the election's credibility, potentially rendering its outcome a nullity.

The SDP positioned itself as a credible alternative for Ekiti State, promising good governance, socio-economic development, and shared prosperity. The party reiterated its dedication to advocating for transparent and credible elections as a contribution to Nigeria's democratic progress.

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The SDP hereby declares that in an election such as this, where the actions and inactions of the electoral umpire show an unhidden bias, the outcome becomes a nullity, considering that the deliberate locking out of agents of a major opposition party like the SDP by the commission erodes the credibility of the election.