The Court of Appeal has rejected a request by the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to relocate the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal from Ado-Ekiti to Abuja.

The tribunal disclosed this on Wednesday, directing that proceedings in the petitions challenging Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election should continue at its Ado-Ekiti venue.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, said the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, had directed that proceedings continue in Ado-Ekiti pending further directives.

The SDP and Action Alliance, AA, had sought adjournments over the venue issue, but the tribunal ruled that the latest directive had overtaken the applications and adjourned both petitions to Thursday, September 24.

The SDP had requested the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja, citing alleged security concerns around the tribunal premises in Ado-Ekiti.

The party’s legal team was absent during Wednesday’s proceedings, while counsel representing INEC and Governor Oyebanji were present.

The SDP is expected to continue presenting witnesses when proceedings resume. Recent reporting confirms that the tribunal has been hearing petitions arising from the June 20 Ekiti governorship election in Ado-Ekiti.