The legal team of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has rejected a petition reportedly filed to challenge the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The development has created confusion within the state’s political landscape after the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal displayed petitions purportedly filed by the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election outcome.
However, a senior member of the APC legal team, Adekunle Adegoke, SAN, said the party’s lawyers did not authorise the petition attributed to the APC candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
According to Adegoke, the legal team met with Oyebamiji and other party leaders shortly after the election to assess the results and determine whether there were grounds for litigation.
He said that after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the election, the legal team advised against approaching the tribunal, citing the need to reduce political tension and promote peace in Osun State.
APC Lawyers Say Petition Was Unauthorised
Adegoke maintained that the APC legal team had identified issues that could potentially have formed the basis of an election challenge.
However, he explained that the decision was deliberately taken not to pursue litigation because the lawyers believed de-escalating tensions was in the best interest of the state.
He further stated that the legal team had formally disowned the documents filed in the name of the APC, describing the individuals responsible as people who were not authorised to represent the party in the matter.
The lawyer stressed that the APC’s position was not motivated by a lack of legal grounds but by a conscious decision to prioritise peace and stability following the election.
Tribunal Had Displayed APC Petition
The controversy followed the display of an APC petition at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo.
The tribunal had reportedly received two petitions concerning the August 15 election, with one attributed to the APC and another to the PDP.
The APC petition was reportedly linked to Oyebamiji, who contested the election against Adeleke.
The emergence of the petition came despite earlier indications that the APC had chosen not to challenge the election result.
Adeleke Declared Winner of Osun Poll
Governor Ademola Adeleke was declared the winner of the August 15 governorship election, securing another term in office.
The election featured candidates from several political parties, with Adeleke contesting under the Accord platform and Oyebamiji representing the APC.
The dispute over the alleged APC petition has now raised questions about who authorised the filing and whether it represents the official position of the party or its candidate.
APC Legal Team Seeks to Clarify Position
The APC legal team has insisted that the party’s official position remains that it will not challenge Adeleke’s victory at the tribunal.
Adegoke said the lawyers wanted the public to understand that the decision was deliberate and based on their assessment of the political situation in Osun.
He added that the party had no personal issue with Adeleke or members of other political parties and that any decision to pursue legal action would have to be based on clearly established principles and proper authorisation.
The conflicting developments have added a new layer to the post-election situation in Osun State as the tribunal considers the petitions that have been presented before it.
