Confusion as APC legal team disowns election petition against Adeleke victory

The All Progressives Congress (APC) legal team in Osun State has distanced itself from a petition filed to contest the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the recent gubernatorial election. According to notices signed by the Tribunal Secretary, Belemo Diete-Spiff, the original petitioners in the first suit were Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the APC candidate, along with the APC, while the respondents included Adeleke, the Accord Party, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The second petition had the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the petitioner and the INEC, Accord Party, and Adeleke as the respondents. One of the leaders of the legal team, Adekunle Adegoke (SAN), stated that no petition was filed on behalf of the APC candidate and party before the tribunal. He said the legal team, consisting of several senior advocates and professors of law, advised their client to refrain from challenging the election outcome, emphasizing that they are not litigious and do not seek to cause unrest.

Adegoke clarified that the decision not to go to the tribunal was taken to prove to the public that the APC is not aggressive and is principled. The legal team highlighted that they do not have any personal issues with Adeleke or other party members. They emphasized their commitment to fighting only based on principle. The legal team's actions were contested by some of their members, who accused them of filing a petition without authorization from the APC or its candidate.