Osun Tribunal Shocker: APC denies Petition Bearing Its Name

In a dramatic twist, the All Progressives Congress legal team in Osun State has publicly disowned a petition purportedly filed on behalf of the party and its governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, challenging Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the team declared the petition “unauthorised” and “without substance,” affirming that the party had willingly chosen peace over litigation.

A Legal Drama Unfolds

On the surface, it appeared to be a routine electoral dispute: two petitions challenging the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke were displayed at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday.

The petitioners were the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – a peculiar development given that the PDP had not fielded a candidate in the August 15 poll.

But within hours, the narrative took a dramatic turn.

The Disownment

Speaking on behalf of the APC legal team, Adekunle Adegoke (SAN) delivered a stunning rebuke of the petition bearing the party’s name.

“The legal team has been in existence for more than seven years now. When we are going into an election, and the result of the election is being announced, we know where there are loopholes, we know what we can challenge,” Adegoke said.

“At this particular point in time, we want to prove to the minds of the people that at the level of the APC, we are not termagants; we are not just litigious people who are just interested in causing brouhaha in the populace. We don’t have anything personal against Nurudeen Adeleke the governor, or any other person in another party, whether PDP or Accord.”

Why the APC Chose Peace Over Litigation

Adegoke, who leads the legal team alongside other Senior Advocates including Dr Biodun Layoonu (SAN) , Dr Yomi Aliyu (SAN) , Dr Muritala Abdulrasheed (SAN) , and legal luminaries such as Prof Mojeed Alabi , revealed that the decision not to challenge the election outcome was deliberate and principled.

“Right from the second day of the election, at the level of the legal team being led by about 4 Senior Advocates of Nigeria… we advised our client that the best in this circumstance is for us not to go to the tribunal.”

He explained that the team conducted a thorough review of the election results and identified that while there were valid grounds to challenge the outcome, the decision to forgo litigation was based on a broader principle.

“It’s not like maybe the election was free; it doesn’t mean there were no malpractices. There are valid grounds to challenge the result of the election, and we decided to let the populace rest.”

“Let there be some peace and our client said yes; if it’s going to take us another four years to get things together for the people of Osun, let us allow it.”

The Candidate’s Honour

Adegoke emphasised that the APC candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji , had willingly and without pressure congratulated Governor Adeleke after the results were announced.

“Our client, having willingly, without pressure, without duress, congratulated Governor Adeleke, do you now think it will be legitimate as a man of honour for Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji to go behind and authorise the filing of a petition?”

He declared the petition a “piece of paper without good substance” and insisted that “no good petition will come from a seasoned election petition lawyer that will contain such a penchant for context.”

“I want to be on record that the APC legal team has denounced the bundle of papers filed by some individuals masquerading as APC lawyers. It was not authorised by APC as a party or its candidate.”

The PDP’s Peculiar Position

Meanwhile, the PDP’s petition adds another layer of intrigue to the unfolding drama.

The PDP did not field a candidate in the August 15 election, its candidate, Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola (FRYO) , had withdrawn from the race and endorsed Governor Adeleke.

Yet, a petition bearing the party’s name has been filed at the tribunal.

This paradoxical situation raises questions about the coherence of opposition politics in Osun State and the strategic calculation behind the legal challenges.

A Political Statement

The APC legal team’s decision to disown the petition and publicly affirm their commitment to peace represents a significant political statement.

It signals a departure from the litigious culture that has often characterised Nigerian electoral disputes and suggests a willingness to prioritise stability over protracted legal battles.

However, the fact that a rogue petition was filed in the party’s name also highlights the challenges facing political parties in maintaining discipline and preventing unauthorised actions by individuals seeking to exploit the party’s name for personal or political gain.

A Lesson for Nigerian Youths

ADVERTISEMENT

This episode offers a powerful lesson in political maturity.

The APC legal team’s decision to prioritise peace over litigation, despite identifying valid grounds to challenge the election, demonstrates that true leadership sometimes requires setting aside personal ambition for the greater good.

The same people who celebrate victory today may find themselves on the losing side tomorrow.

The same politicians who file frivolous petitions will never allow their own children to be caught in the chaos of endless litigation.

For young Nigerians, the lesson is clear: honour and integrity matter more than victory at all costs.

The APC candidate’s decision to congratulate his opponent and accept defeat without a fight is a rare act of statesmanship in Nigerian politics.

Demand integrity from your leaders. Celebrate when they choose peace over conflict.

And never forget that true leadership is measured not by how many battles you win, but by how you conduct yourself in defeat.