The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026 reportedly filed before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, declaring that the petition was neither authorised nor instituted by the party.
The party made its position known on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at a press briefing held at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, where its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the PDP did not sponsor, approve, endorse or instruct any lawyer to challenge the outcome of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election in its name.
Mohammed said the party was compelled to address the issue following reports concerning the petition, stressing that the PDP had no connection with the legal action.
According to him, the party’s position was supported by Article 42 of the PDP Constitution, which vests the authority to institute and conduct legal proceedings on behalf of the party in the National Legal Adviser.
He said the PDP National Legal Adviser, A.K. Ajibade, SAN, did not authorise or instruct any individual or lawyer to file the petition on behalf of the party.
The party specifically named Mr. Ochai Jacob Otokpa, Esq., as the lawyer reportedly responsible for filing the petition and challenged him to produce the authority or mandate upon which he relied in instituting proceedings in the name of the PDP.
“Who instructed him? Who authorised him? And by what authority did he purport to act in the name of the PDP?” the party asked, insisting that these questions required clear answers.
Mohammed said the PDP had completely dissociated itself from Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026 and would not accept the proceeding as an official action of the party unless the alleged authority behind it was established.
The development comes against the backdrop of the disputed political contest that preceded and followed the August 15 Osun governorship election, which attracted significant attention from the major political parties and their candidates.
The PDP also pointed out that Mr. Adebayo Adedamola, popularly known as “Fryo,” who was reportedly presented as the party’s candidate in the election, had equally distanced himself from the petition.
The party said Adedamola stated during an appearance on TVC News on September 7 that he did not instruct or retain any lawyer to institute a petition challenging the election result.
With both the party and the individual identified as its candidate distancing themselves from the case, the PDP said questions had consequently arisen over who actually instructed the lawyer to commence the proceedings.
The National Publicity Secretary disclosed that the party’s Legal Department had commenced steps to formally withdraw the PDP’s name from the purported proceedings.
He urged the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Accord Party, Governor Ademola Adeleke, security agencies, the media and members of the public to take note of the PDP’s position.
The party called on all concerned to disregard the petition, its contents and any claim that it represents an official legal action of the PDP.
The PDP further demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the preparation and filing of the petition.
It urged the relevant authorities to take appropriate action against anyone found to have impersonated the party or used its name, identity or legal personality without proper authorisation.
“The PDP will not allow its name, constitutional authority, or institutional identity to be appropriated by individuals acting without the mandate of the Party,” Mohammed said.
The controversy adds another legal dimension to the political developments surrounding the 2026 Osun governorship election, as questions over the proper ownership, authority and standing of the purported petition are now expected to come under scrutiny.
