Ekiti 2026 Guber election: Alade is on ballot—SDP speaks on withdrawal of governorship candidate

The Social Democratic Party has dismissed claims making the round that its governorship candidate, Isaac Adebayo Alade, has withdrawn from the scheduled Saturday, 20th June 2026, gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.

SDP National Publicity Secretary Araba Rufus Aiyenigba disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

This comes amid reports that Alade had stepped outside.

However, SDP said the story was fabricated to distract Ekiti voters ahead of its governorship election.

According to SDP, the false withdrawal story of Alade was credited to a group loyal to its expelled former chairman, Shehu Gabam.

“The Ekiti electorate and members of the general public are hereby assured by the National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, and National Working Committee (NWC) that the SDP is listed on the ballot and its candidate, Ambassador Isaac Adebayo Alade, the validly nominated candidate who is recognized by the INEC, particularly with his being one of the governorship candidates who signed the INEC Peace Pact, remains strongly in contention for the election,” the party stated.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission recently listed Gombe as the right national chairman of SDP on its portal.

INEC on Friday said all is set to conduct Saturday’s Ekiti election.