PDP clarifies position on petition against Adeleke’s re-election

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), supported by Nyesom Wike, has distanced itself from a petition questioning the re-election of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke. At a press conference on Wednesday, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, confirmed that the PDP neither authorized nor supported Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026 before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo.

This clarification came after the tribunal presented petitions allegedly filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP themselves, challenging the 15th August governorship election results. Mohammed stated that the petition bearing the PDP's name was unapproved and did not reflect the party's stance. He emphasized that the party neither initiated, supported, nor endorsed any legal action challenging Adeleke's election victory.

Mohammed pointed to Article 42 of the PDP Constitution, which he claimed grants the National Legal Adviser the power to initiate and manage the party's legal actions. However, he insisted that the National Legal Adviser, A.K. Ajibade, did not give any approval or direction for the petition filing. He specifically challenged Ochai Jacob Otokpa, Esq., the lawyer allegedly responsible for filing the petition, to provide evidence of the authority he allegedly used to act on the party's behalf.

Mohammed reiterated that the PDP had completely dissociated itself from the petition and would not accept it as a proceeding on its behalf.