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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed reports claiming it withdrew from Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, describing the information as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Friday, the party said its candidate, Isaac Alade, remains in the race and is duly recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The SDP said its name remains on the ballot and urged voters to ignore what it described as a fabricated withdrawal notice allegedly circulated to mislead the public ahead of the election.
The party maintained that Alade remains its validly nominated candidate and continues to contest the poll.
“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,” the statement read.
The SDP also accused unnamed individuals of spreading misinformation to confuse voters and undermine its participation in the election.
In addition, the party raised concerns about what it described as INEC’s failure to grant access to upload polling unit agents. According to the SDP, although access codes were reportedly issued to its national secretariat, the portal required for uploading agents was not opened by officials at the commission’s headquarters.
The party argued that such actions could affect the credibility of the electoral process, alleging that the inability to deploy agents amounted to unfair treatment of a major opposition party.
“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,” the statement added.
Despite the concerns, the SDP reaffirmed its participation in the election and said it remains committed to offering Ekiti voters an alternative platform focused on good governance, equitable development and economic prosperity.
The party also reiterated its commitment to promoting transparent and credible elections as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process.
