By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned an election petition challenging the outcome of the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, declaring that the suit was neither authorised nor instituted on behalf of the party.
The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Hon. Jungudo Mohammed, in a press conference at the PDP Headquarters Abuja on Wednesday reported gat he party had no knowledge and as not involved in the purported Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, allegedly filed before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and two others.
The PDP said it did not “authorise, institute, sponsor, or endorse” the petition and urged the tribunal, INEC, political parties, Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke and security agencies to take note of its position.
According to the party, the authority to institute legal proceedings in its name or on its behalf rests with its National Legal Adviser, subject to the party’s constitution and relevant laws.
The PDP recalled a public notice published in THISDAY on January 17, 2023, and signed by its then National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, which stated that Article 42 of the party’s Constitution, as amended in 2017, vested the National Legal Adviser with exclusive authority to conduct, prosecute and defend legal matters involving the party, its organs and officials.
The party said the notice remained valid and had not been revoked.
It added that, under the arrangement, any lawyer engaged to initiate or defend proceedings on behalf of the PDP must receive written authorisation duly signed by the National Legal Adviser.
The party specifically stated that its current National Legal Adviser, A.K. Ajibade, SAN, did not authorise or issue any letter of instruction to Ochai Jacob Otokpa, Esq., to institute the disputed 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, as mandated by Article 42 of the PDP Constitution,” the statement said.
The PDP consequently declared that it did not recognise the petition as a proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the party.
“The PDP does not recognise the purported petition as a proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the Party, and no person should rely upon it as representing the official position of the PDP,” it said.
The party also cited comments reportedly made by Adebayo Adedamola, popularly known as “Fryo”, whom it described as the purported PDP candidate in the 2026 Osun governorship election.
According to the PDP, Adedamola, while speaking on TVC News on September 7, distanced himself from the petition and said he had neither instructed nor retained any lawyer to challenge the election result on his behalf or on behalf of the party.
The party further said Adedamola stated that he had no basis to dispute the election result and that he personally voted for the eventual winner, Governor Adeleke, during the August 15 poll.
The development comes after the Osun governorship election, in which Adeleke was declared winner by INEC.
The PDP said its legal department had commenced steps to formally remove the party’s name from the disputed proceedings.
It also called on the appropriate authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the filing of the petition.
The party warned that anyone found to have impersonated the PDP, its officials, National Legal Adviser, counsel or any authorised representative, or to have fraudulently presented documents purportedly issued or authorised by the party, should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The PDP said it would not allow its name, identity or legal personality to be used by individuals for purposes contrary to its official position.
“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,” it said.
