Investigate Purported Petition Against Adeleke’s Election – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned a purported petition challenging the victory of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, in the August 15, 2026 governorship election, urging relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the filing.

The party also called for the arrest and prosecution of anyone found to have impersonated the PDP, its officials, National Legal Adviser or any authorised representative in connection with the petition.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Jungudo, made the demand at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, insisting that the petition filed by Ochai Jacob Otokpa was neither authorised nor sanctioned by the party.

According to him, the authority to institute legal proceedings on behalf of the PDP is vested in the National Legal Adviser, subject to the provisions of the party’s constitution and applicable laws.

He said, “Pursuant to this provision, the engagement of any legal counsel to initiate or defend proceedings on behalf of the PDP must be authorised in writing and duly signed by the National Legal Adviser.”

Jungudo maintained that the petition challenging Adeleke’s re-election did not have the approval, support or authority of the party’s National Legal Adviser.

He described Otokpa, who filed the petition, as an unauthorised person who acted without the prior knowledge or approval of the PDP.

“Consequently, 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,” he stated.

The PDP spokesman further disclosed that the party’s governorship candidate in the election, Adebayo Adedamola, had publicly distanced himself from the petition during an interview on national television on September 7.

According to Jungudo, Adedamola made it clear that he neither instructed nor retained any lawyer to file an election petition challenging the outcome of the poll on his behalf or that of the party.

He added that the candidate had “unequivocally” stated that he had no basis to challenge the result, noting that Adedamola personally voted in the August 15 election for Adeleke, who was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Jungudo said the PDP had therefore formally dissociated itself from Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026.

“The general public, the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, INEC, the Accord Party, Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, and all security agencies are urged to note that the PDP completely disassociates itself from Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026,” he said.

He disclosed that the party’s Legal Department had commenced immediate steps to formally withdraw the PDP’s name from the suit.

The PDP consequently urged the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the purported petition and prosecute anyone found culpable of impersonation or unauthorised representation of the party.