PDP Denies Knowledge of Petition Against Adeleke's Win

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that it did not approve a petition that challenges Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the governorship election held on August 15 in Osun State.

Jungudo Mohammed, the PDP’s national publicity secretary, made this known during a press briefing on Wednesday at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

Mr Mohammed said the party did not file the petition nor ask its legal team to challenge Mr Adeleke’s victory at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

“We are here to tell you that the PDP did not authorise this petition. It is not our case. The party neither instituted, sponsored, approved, nor endorsed the petition challenging the outcome of the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election.

“According to Article 42 of the PDP Constitution, only the National Legal Adviser can start and manage legal actions for the party. The National Legal Adviser, A.K. Ajibade, SAN, did not give any instruction to anyone to file this petition on behalf of the PDP,” the party said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Mr Adeleke as the winner after he got 511,067 votes, defeating his main opponent, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who received 444,815 votes.

Mr Oyebamiji accepted defeat and congratulated Mr Adeleke on his victory.

The APC legal team, which includes Abiodun Layonu, Yomi Aliyu, Adekunle Adegoke, and Muritala Abdulrasheed, decided not to contest the election results after discussions with Mr Oyebamiji and other party members.

Mr Adegoke, speaking for the legal team, said their decision was partly to reduce tensions in the state and promote peace.

But on Monday, petitions disputing Mr Adeleke’s victory were posted on the notice board of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo.

These petitions were filed under the names of PDP candidate Adebayo Adedamola and APC candidate Mr Oyebamiji.

The APC petition, numbered EPT/OS/GOV/01/2026, listed Mr Adeleke, the Accord Party, and INEC as respondents. The PDP’s petition, numbered EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, also named the same respondents.

After the petitions were made public, both candidates denied authorising them and withdrew from the cases.

In the midst of this confusion, Oluseyi Oyagbile, the lawyer who signed the APC petition, insisted that the party leadership had approved the filing.

He claimed that the APC's deputy governorship candidate, Kayode Adereti, witnessed the filing of the petition before it went to the tribunal.

On Tuesday, The Nation newspaper reported that Mr Oyagbile confirmed in a phone call that he withdrew the petition after receiving new instructions from his client and APC leaders.

PDP Asks Lawyer for Proof

The PDP spokesperson challenged the lawyer who filed the petition for its candidate to show the authority he had to do so.

“We are aware that one Ochai Jacob Otokpa, Esq., is the lawyer who supposedly filed the petition in the name of the party. We challenge him to show the authority, instructions, or mandate he had to file the proceedings in the name of the PDP.

“Who instructed him? Who authorised him? And by what authority did he act in the name of the PDP? These are valid questions that the Party and the public deserve answers to,” he said.

Mr Mohammed mentioned that the party completely distances itself from the petition until the individuals behind it come forward.

“The party, therefore, fully disowns Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026. Until such authority is shown, the PDP insists that this petition was not filed with the party’s permission and does not reflect our position,” he stated.

He added that the party’s candidate also denied approving the petition.

“It is also important to tell the public that Mr Adebayo Adedamola, known as 'Fryo', who was said to be the PDP candidate in the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, has publicly distanced himself from the petition.

“While speaking on TVC News on September 7, 2026, Mr Adedamola said he did not hire any lawyer to file a petition against the election results. So the question is, on whose instructions was the petition filed?”

PDP Starts Withdrawal Process

Mr Mohammed announced that the PDP legal team has begun to withdraw the party’s name from the petition.

“While our Legal Department is working to remove the party’s name from the proceedings, we want to be clear that the PDP does not recognise Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026 as an action taken by or on behalf of the Party,” he stated.

He called on Governor Adeleke, the Accord Party leadership, and security agencies to take note of the party’s stance.

“We urge the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, INEC, the Accord Party, His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke, security agencies, the media, and the public to disregard the petition and any claims that it is an official PDP action.

“We also call for an investigation into how the petition was prepared and filed. Those who impersonated the Party or misused its name without permission should face appropriate action.

“The PDP will not allow its name, authority, or identity to be misused by anyone acting without the Party’s mandate,” Mr Mohammed said.