Osun 2026: PDP Disowns Governorship Petition, Says Suit Unauthorised

The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected an election petition filed in its name before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, saying the suit was neither approved nor authorised by the party. The PDP made its position known on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in Abuja, after a petition challenging the outcome of the August 15 governorship election appeared before the tribunal in Osogbo.

The party, backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, said its National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, who has the constitutional responsibility to commence legal action on behalf of the PDP, did not give any person or lawyer permission to file the case.

The development followed reports that notices of two separate petitions had been displayed at the office of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

One of the petitions, identified as EPT/Os/Gov/01/2026, was filed by the All Progressives Congress and its Osun governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. The respondents listed in that case were Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The second petition, numbered EPT/Os/Gov/02/2026, listed the PDP as the petitioner, while INEC, the Accord Party and Senator Ademola Adeleke were named as respondents.

However, the APC and Oyebamiji moved to withdraw their own petition on Tuesday after their lawyer, Seyi Oyagbile, filed a motion at the tribunal seeking its withdrawal.

The motion was dated September 8, 2026, and was submitted at the tribunal located within the premises of the Osun State High Court in Osogbo.

Reacting to the development, the PDP demanded an explanation from Ochai Jacob Otokpa, the lawyer said to have filed the disputed petition. The party asked him to produce the instruction or authority that gave him the right to commence legal proceedings in its name.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said the party was forced to address the issue because the petition had been presented as an official action of the PDP.

Mohammed said the party had no knowledge of, and did not approve, the petition challenging the result of the August 15 Osun governorship election. He explained that Article 42 of the PDP Constitution gives the National Legal Adviser the power to institute and manage legal proceedings on behalf of the party.

According to him, Ajibade did not authorise Otokpa or any other lawyer to commence the case for the PDP.

The party therefore wants Otokpa to explain who engaged him, who gave him permission and the basis on which he claimed to be acting for the PDP.

The PDP also said its position was strengthened by the reported statement of Adebayo Adedamola, popularly known as Fryo, who was presented as the party’s candidate in the 2026 Osun governorship election.

The party said Adedamola had also denied instructing or engaging any lawyer to challenge the election result.

Mohammed noted that Adedamola made the denial during an appearance on TVC News on September 7, further raising questions about who was behind the petition.

The PDP said its legal department had begun steps to remove the party’s name from the disputed case. It maintained that EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026 should not be regarded as a legal action brought by the party because it was filed without its approval.

The party called on the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, INEC, the Accord Party, Governor Adeleke, security agencies, the media and members of the public to take note of its position and disregard the petition as an official PDP action.

The PDP further requested an investigation into how the petition was prepared and filed. It said anyone found to have falsely presented themselves as acting for the party or used its name and legal identity without approval should face appropriate sanctions.

The party said it would resist any attempt by individuals to use its name, constitutional powers or institutional identity without proper authority, adding that such conduct would not be accepted.