Osun APC Seeks Withdrawal Of Disputed Petition Against Adeleke

Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has applied for the withdrawal of the disputed petition filed at the Osun Governorship Election Petition tribunal by allegedly unauthorised members of the party challenging the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the 15 August governorship election in the state.

The move came barely a day after the APC publicly distanced itself from the petition, insisting that the document was neither authorised by the party nor sanctioned by its recognised legal team.

A Notice of Motion dated 8 September 2026, and received by the tribunal’s secretariat in Osogbo the same day, seeks an order permitting the petitioner to withdraw the case.

The application lists Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents, while Oyebamiji and the APC are named as petitioners.

The tribunal had on Monday pasted notices containing two separate petitions purportedly lodged by the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marking the formal commencement of proceedings arising from the election.

Recall that a senior member of the party’s legal team, Dr Abiodun Layonu, SAN, had said the petition did not originate from the legal team and had not received the approval of the party leadership.
The party’s campaign spokesperson, Remi Omowaye, also called on members of the public to disregard the document.

However, the lawyer who filed the disputed petition, Mr Seyi Oyagbile, later acknowledged his involvement, explaining that he acted on the instructions of the APC deputy governorship candidate, Engineer Benjamin Adereti.

Oyagbile also indicated that Adereti had signed the petition before it was presented to the tribunal.

In the Notice of Motion, the petitioner asks the tribunal for an order allowing the withdrawal of the petition, citing the “decision of the petitioner” as the ground for the application.

The document is dated 8 September 2026, and is signed in connection with the application for withdrawal.

The latest development is expected to further clarify which petitions filed with the tribunal are supported by the political parties and candidates involved in the election dispute.