Ekiti 2026 Gubernatorial Election: Alade Appears on Ballot as SDP Announces Candidate Withdrawal

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has denied reports that its governorship candidate, Isaac Adebayo Alade, has withdrawn from the upcoming Ekiti State election scheduled for Saturday, 20 June 2026.

SDP National Publicity Secretary Araba Rufus Aiyenigba issued a statement on Friday confirming the claim as false.

These statements follow circulating reports that Alade had stepped outside the campaign.

The party said the withdrawal story was fabricated to distract voters in Ekiti ahead of the gubernatorial contest.

According to the SDP, the rumor was spread by a group loyal to its expelled former chairman, Shehu Gabam.

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

It is worth noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recently listed Gombe as the legitimate national chairman of the SDP on its portal.

INEC announced on Friday that all preparations are complete for the Ekiti election to be held on Saturday.