Osun 2026: APC Disowns Tribunal Petition Challenging Adeleke's Re-election

Daud Olatunji Fresh confusion has erupted over the legal challenge to the August 15 Osun State governorship election after the All Progressives Congress denied authorising a petition purportedly filed against the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke. The controversy followed the display of two election petitions at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Secretariat in Osogbo on Monday. The petitions, dated September 5, 2026, listed the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and another petitioner, Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, as challengers to the election outcome. However, the APC legal team immediately disowned the petition attributed to the party and Oyebamiji, insisting that neither the candidate nor the party authorised the filing. The development has thrown the post-election legal process into uncertainty, particularly as the tribunal had formally commenced preparations for hearing petitions arising from the election. The tribunal's Secretary, Pefe Belemore, had confirmed that petitions challenging the poll had been filed. The petition numbered EPT/OS/GOV/01/2026 was purportedly filed by Oyebamiji and the APC against Adeleke, the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission. A second petition, numbered EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, was filed by Adedamola against Adeleke, INEC and the Accord Party. But speaking on the development, a member of the APC legal team, Barrister Muideen Adeoye, said the party and its candidate did not authorise any such legal action. Adeoye said the legal team had agreed with the party hierarchy not to challenge the election at the tribunal. 'We did not file any petition, either for the candidate or the party. The said petition may have emanated from some persons within the party, but it is without the permission of the leadership.' He added that the appearance of the petition on the tribunal's notice board was unexpected. 'The legal team, in conjunction with the party hierarchy, agreed not to file any petition and we did not file any. 'I am also aware that notice of petition was pasted at the tribunal today. That is strange, and I repeat, we did not file the said petition.' Another senior member of the APC legal team, Dr Abiodun Layonu, SAN, also rejected the purported petition. Layonu described the development as shocking and said neither Oyebamiji nor the APC authorised the legal action. He urged APC members and members of the public to disregard the petition, stressing that it did not originate from the party's legal team. The controversy comes against the backdrop of the declaration of Adeleke as winner of the August 15 governorship election. Meanwhile, the Accord Party said it was not disturbed by the development, maintaining that any aggrieved candidate or political party was entitled to seek judicial redress. The party's Osun State Chairman, Victor Akande, said approaching the tribunal was preferable to actions capable of threatening peace in the state. He, however, expressed reservations about the increasing tendency to determine election outcomes through litigation rather than at the polling booth. 'It is better to approach the tribunal than taking laws into their hands by disrupting peace and other things. 'I believe our election should end at the poll; the court should not be deciding the winners of elections.' Akande maintained that the Accord Party and its candidate were confident of their victory and would defend their position if the matter proceeded before the tribunal. The conflicting positions have raised questions over the identity and authority of those behind the petition filed in the name of the APC and its candidate. As of Monday, officials of the Accord Party and members of its legal team were seen at the tribunal secretariat as preparations for the election petition proceedings continued. ' ' Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE