The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned a petition challenging the outcome of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, saying the suit was filed without the authorisation of its National Legal Adviser.
The party described Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, purportedly filed in its name before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, as unauthorised and misleading.
The development followed the display of two separate petitions on the tribunal’s notice board in Osogbo on Monday.
The first petition, marked EPT/OS/GOV/01/2026, lists Bola Oyebamiji and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as petitioners, while Governor Ademola Adeleke, Accord and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are named as respondents.
The second petition, EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, lists Adebayo Adedamola as the petitioner and INEC, Accord and Adeleke as respondents.
However, in a disclaimer issued on Wednesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said the party had neither authorised nor endorsed the second petition.
The party said Article 42 of its Constitution governs the institution of legal proceedings in its name and places it under the authority of its National Legal Adviser.
According to the PDP, a public notice published in THISDAY on January 17, 2023, and signed by its then National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, had already affirmed that the National Legal Adviser possesses the exclusive authority to conduct, prosecute and defend legal matters on behalf of the party, its organs and officials.
The party said the position remains valid and unrevoked.
It further explained that any lawyer engaged to institute or defend proceedings on behalf of the PDP must receive written authorisation signed by the National Legal Adviser.
The PDP said no such authorisation was issued for the disputed Osun election petition.
“The National Legal Adviser of the PDP, A.K. Ajibade, SAN, neither authorised nor issued a letter of instruction to Ochai Jacob Otokpa, Esq., to file Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026,” the statement said.
It therefore declared that it did not recognise the petition as a proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the party.
The PDP also pointed to comments reportedly made by its 2026 Osun governorship candidate, Adebayo Adedamola, popularly known as “Fryo”, on TVC News on September 7.
The party said Adedamola had personally denied instructing or retaining any lawyer to challenge the election result either in his own name or on behalf of the PDP.
According to the statement, Adedamola said he had no basis to dispute the outcome of the election and disclosed that he personally voted for Adeleke, who was declared the winner of the August 15 poll.
The PDP consequently urged the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, INEC, Accord, Adeleke, security agencies and the general public to take note of its position and not treat the disputed petition as representing the official position of the party.
The party said its legal department had commenced steps to formally withdraw its name from the alleged unauthorised proceedings.
It also called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the filing of the petition.
The PDP went further to demand the arrest and prosecution of anyone found to have impersonated the party, its officials, National Legal Adviser, counsel or any other authorised representative.
It warned that anyone who fraudulently presented documents as having been issued or authorised by the PDP should face the full force of the law.
“The PDP will not permit its name, identity, or legal personality to be misused by individuals for purposes contrary to the official position of the Party,” the statement added.
The development adds a new dimension to the controversy surrounding the petitions displayed before the Osun State governorship election tribunal, particularly over who authorised the filing of the petition listed in the name of Adedamola and the PDP.
