The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has expressed concern over the repeated failure of the Action Alliance (AA) to present witnesses in support of its petition challenging the outcome of the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, Chairman of the three member panel raised the concern during Friday’s proceedings after the AA again failed to produce its witnesses despite earlier assurances that they would appear. Reports from the proceedings indicate that it was the third consecutive sitting at which the party had been unable to present its witnesses.
Nigeria News Alert reports that the development followed the appearance of six witnesses presented by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who gave evidence relating to the conduct of the election in polling units and wards where they served as party agents and collation agents. 
The witnesses were led in evidence by counsel to the SDP and AA, Ebenezer Akinbuli, while counsel representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tunde Salako, and counsel for Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Adetunji Oso, SAN, cross examined them.
The AA and SDP are among the petitioners challenging the declaration of Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election. The AA candidate, Olu Omotoso, polled 126 votes, while the SDP candidate, Adebayo Alade, recorded 179 votes in the election.
After the SDP completed the presentation of its witnesses for the day, attention turned to the AA, which had been expected to commence or continue the presentation of its own witnesses based on an earlier commitment made to the tribunal.
Justice Kutigi reminded Akinbuli of the undertaking previously given to the panel, but the counsel requested another adjournment to enable him to make arrangements for the AA witnesses to appear.
The request prompted the tribunal chairman to question the continued delay, particularly given the length of time that had elapsed since the petition was filed.
“If you are not interested in this case, you these people (AA) should just close your case. If at this stage you have not made up your mind on what you want to do, we can’t just keep adjourning every time and you know that this is an election petition.
“We find this strange and we are not here to play. How does it sound for you to stand before us saying you will be looking for witnesses, after how many months? When was this case filed? Why not pursue this case? You are the counsel, try and take charge of this matter.”
Following the remarks, Akinbuli apologised to the panel and appealed for what he described as a final opportunity to ensure that the AA witnesses appeared at the next sitting.
The counsel assured the tribunal that the party would present its witnesses on Monday, September 28, saying he would “do the needful on the next day of adjournment.”
Counsel for INEC and Oyebanji did not oppose the request, allowing the tribunal to consider the additional opportunity sought by the AA.
Justice Kutigi consequently adjourned further hearing until Monday, September 28, when the tribunal is expected to continue with the petitions and give the AA another opportunity to present evidence through its witnesses.
The latest development adds to the tribunal’s recent emphasis on the need for the parties in the election petitions to proceed with their cases without unnecessary delays. The panel has previously expressed concerns over delays affecting proceedings in the petitions arising from the Ekiti governorship election.
