Osun Guber Tussle: APC, PDP Candidate Disavow Petitions Against Adeleke

In Osun State, both the legal representatives for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Adebayo Adedamola, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the August 15 election, have publicly distanced themselves from legal challenges contesting Governor Ademola Adeleke's victory. This development emerged after two distinct petitions were observed on Monday, September 7, posted on the notice board of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal located in Osogbo.

Details on the tribunal's notice board showed the first petition, identified as EPT/OS/GOV/01/2026, named Bola Oyebamiji and the APC as the parties initiating the suit, with Governor Adeleke, the Accord party, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed as respondents. The second petition, marked EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, cited Adedamola as the petitioner, similarly listing INEC, Accord, and Adeleke as the respondents.

Pefe Belemore, the tribunal's secretary, verified that petitions disputing the results of the August 15 governorship election had indeed been submitted. Despite this, the APC's legal team asserted they never sanctioned any petition against Adeleke’s win. Concurrently, Adedamola stated unequivocally that neither he nor his legal counsel had initiated any such action against the incumbent governor.

Adekunle Adegoke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a prominent figure within the APC's legal representation, disclosed that the legal team had counselled Oyebamiji against pursuing litigation post-election. Adegoke was quoted, stating, “Right from the second day of the election, at the level of the legal team being led by about four senior advocates of Nigeria, Dr Biodun Layoonu (SAN), Dr Yomi Aliyu (SAN), myself, Kunle Adegoke (SAN) and Dr Muritala Abdulrasheed (SAN),"

He further elaborated that their team’s advice to Oyebamiji was that “the best in this circumstance is for us not to go to the tribunal.” Adegoke explained that following the announcement of election results, the legal team convened with Oyebamiji and other APC stalwarts, collectively determining that pursuing legal action would not serve the paramount interests of Osun State. Adegoke clarified, “We don’t have anything personal against Nurudeen Adeleke, the governor, or any other person in another party, whether PDP or Accord.” He acknowledged that the lawyers were cognizant of what he termed “valid grounds” to dispute the election outcome but ultimately chose to prioritize allowing the state's populace to “rest.”

He further noted that Oyebamiji’s subsequent act of congratulating Governor Adeleke aligned perfectly with the legal team’s stance. Adegoke stated, “Right from the second day, 16th of August, when the result of the election was announced, that is why we allowed time to play out a little before our client came out and congratulated the Governor, Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke.”

Adegoke then posed a rhetorical question, challenging the plausibility of Oyebamiji authorizing a petition after openly accepting the election results and extending congratulations to Adeleke. He queried, “Our client, having willingly, without pressure, without duress, congratulated Governor Adeleke, do you now think it will be legitimate as a man of honour for Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji to go behind and authorise the filing of a petition?”

He characterized the petition exhibited at the tribunal as the work of individuals “masquerading as APC lawyers.” Adegoke firmly declared, “I want to be on record that the APC legal team has denounced the bundle of papers filed by some individuals masquerading as APC lawyers. It was not authorised by APC as a party or its candidate.”

Similarly, Adedamola categorically denied either authorizing or initiating any petition to dispute Adeleke's triumph. In an interview with TVC on Monday, September 7, the PDP candidate clarified that no information regarding a decision to challenge the election outcome had reached him from his lawyer or any PDP official. He stated, “There’s no petition filed by me or my counsel. So, I don’t know where they manufactured the petition they submitted at the tribunal.” Adedamola further explained his lack of motivation to challenge Adeleke, citing his public endorsement of the governor prior to the election and his personal vote for him.

He reminded the public that the PDP had organized a press conference on August 13 to announce their support for Adeleke. Adedamola emphasized, “There has never been any meeting where a decision has been reached to challenge the decision of the court.” He added, “I even voted for Governor Adeleke of the Accord party. Why would I now change today and be filing any petition against him?” It is noteworthy that Governor Adeleke, having run under the Accord party banner, secured victory in the August 15 governorship election by garnering 511,067 votes.