Abuja: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially disowned an election petition filed in its name challenging the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15 Osun governorship election.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Jungudo Mohammed, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, stated at a news conference in Abuja that the party neither authorized, sponsored, nor approved petition number EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, which is currently before the Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo. Mohammed emphasized that only the PDP National Legal Adviser has the constitutional mandate to initiate or delegate legal proceedings on behalf of the party, and no such authorization was given for this particular suit.
‘We are here to tell you that the PDP did not authorize this petition and it is not our case. The party did not institute, sponsor, approve, nor endorse the petition challenging the outcome of the August 15 Osun governorship election,’ Mohammed stated. He further mentioned that the party had issued disclaimers in major national newspapers to clarify their position.
Mohammed identified Ochai Jacob Otokpa, Esq., a legal practitioner, as the individual who allegedly filed the petition in the party’s name. He challenged the lawyer to present any written instruction or authority empowering him to act on behalf of the PDP. Mohammed posed a series of questions demanding clarity on the unauthorized action, emphasizing the need for transparency.
The spokesperson also noted that the PDP’s candidate in the election had appeared on a television program on September 7 to publicly disown the petition, asserting that no legal practitioner was engaged to challenge the election results on his behalf. The PDP’s legal department is reportedly taking steps to formally withdraw the unauthorized suit from the tribunal in Osogbo.
Mohammed called on security agencies and relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fraudulent petition and to take appropriate action against those responsible. He urged the Election Petition Tribunal, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Accord Party, Governor Adeleke, and the public to disregard the petition entirely.
In a stern warning against the misuse of the PDP’s name for personal gains, Mohammed declared that the party would no longer tolerate actions that could damage its reputation. He warned that disciplinary measures would be enforced against any individuals involved, irrespective of their status.
‘The PDP is a creation of the law, and we have taken it upon ourselves that those days are gone when we tolerated such flagrant attitudes that tend to ridicule the party. We have decided to use the sledgehammer to deal with any individual, no matter how highly placed, whenever we find out that statements, positions are taken on behalf of the party without the due authority of the legitimate leadership of the party,’ he concluded.