The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been disowned the Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, purportedly filed on behalf of the party against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and two others before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo.
The petition filed by Ochai Jacob Otokpa, Esq., is challenging the result of the Osun State Governorship Election conducted on the 15th of August, 2026.
But Jungudo Mohammed, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, on Wednesday in Abuja disowned the petition and demanded that the petitioners provide proof of authorisation
According to him, ‘The Peoples Democratic Party wishes to state CATEGORICALLY and UNEQUIVOCALLY that it did not authorise, institute, sponsor, or endorse the said petition.
‘As a matter of law and established practice, the institution of legal proceedings in the name of, or on behalf of, the Peoples Democratic Party is a matter within the authority vested in the National Legal Adviser of the Party, subject to the Party’s Constitution and applicable law’
He recalled that the party had earlier issued a public notice, duly signed by the then National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, affirming that, under Article 42 of the Party’s Constitution (as amended in 2017), the National Legal Adviser holds the exclusive authority to conduct, prosecute, and defend legal matters on behalf of the Party, its organs, and its officials.
According to him, ‘That notice remains active and unrevoked.
‘Pursuant to this provision, the engagement of any legal counsel to initiate or defend proceedings on behalf of the PDP must be authorised in writing and duly signed by the National Legal Adviser’.
He reaffirmed that the position, which still subsists, is ‘supported by a plethora of judicial decisions recognising the importance of proper authority and locus in proceedings purportedly instituted on behalf of a political party’
He emphasised that the purported petition in question does not have the blessing, approval, support, or authority of the National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party.
‘ The Party is bold to state emphatically that the action of Ochai Jacob Otokpa, Esq., in using the name of the Peoples Democratic Party to file Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026 remains unauthorised, misleading, and without the prior knowledge of the Party.
‘ The National Legal Adviser of the PDP, A.K. Ajibade, SAN, neither authorised nor issued a letter of instruction to Ochai Jacob Otokpa, Esq., to file Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, as mandated by Article 42 of the PDP Constitution’
Mohamed also recalled that Adebayo Adedamola (‘Fryo’), the purported Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, had ‘explicitly distanced himself from Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026.’
Ademola had stated that he never instructed or retained any lawyer to file any petition challenging the outcome of the election on his behalf or on behalf of the Party.
‘ Mr. Adedamola stated unequivocally that he has no basis to dispute the result, confirming that he personally voted in the August 15, 2026, election for the declared winner, Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke.
‘The general public, the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, INEC, the Accord Party, Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, and all security agencies are urged to note that the PDP completely disassociates itself from Election Petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026.’ he said
He disclosed that the Party’s Legal Department is taking immediate steps to formally withdraw its name from the unauthorised suit and also urged the appropriate authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the purported petition.
‘ Any person found to have impersonated the Peoples Democratic Party, its officials, National Legal Adviser, counsel, or any authorised representative of the Party, or to have fraudulently presented any document as having been issued or authorised by the Party, should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
‘The PDP will not permit its name, identity, or legal personality to be misused by individuals for purposes contrary to the official position of the Party’