Wike-Backed PDP Disowns Osun Governorship Election Petition

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike – backed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned an election petition purportedly filed in its name challenging the outcome of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.

The party said it neither authorised, instituted, sponsored nor endorsed Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026 before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, stated this in a press briefing at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Mohammed said the authority to institute and conduct legal proceedings on behalf of the party is vested in the National Legal Adviser under Article 42 of the PDP Constitution.

He said the 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 PDP identified Ochai Jacob Otokpa, Esq., as the lawyer purportedly responsible for filing the petition and challenged him to produce the authority or mandate under which he acted in the party’s name.

“Who instructed him? Who authorised him? And by what authority did he purport to act in the name of the PDP?” the party asked.

The PDP also said Adebayo Adedamola, popularly known as “Fryo,” who was purportedly presented as the party’s candidate in the 2026 Osun governorship election, had distanced himself from the petition.

According to the party, Adedamola stated during an interview on TVC News on September 7 that he did not instruct or retain any lawyer to file a petition challenging the election outcome.

The party said its Legal Department had commenced steps to formally withdraw its name from the proceedings, insisting that it did not recognise the petition as an action instituted by or on behalf of the PDP.

It urged the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Accord Party, Governor Ademola Adeleke, security agencies and the public to disregard the petition and any claim that it represents the official position of the PDP.

The party also called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the preparation and filing of the petition and urged appropriate authorities to take action against anyone found to have used its name or legal identity without authorisation.

The PDP said it would not allow its name or institutional identity to be used by individuals without the mandate of the party.