Adebayo Adedamola, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the August 15 Osun State governorship election, has rejected a petition filed in his name challenging Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory.
Adedamola said neither he nor his legal counsel authorised the case, raising questions over who filed the petition now before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo.
The petition, marked EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, lists Adedamola as the petitioner and names Adeleke, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Accord Party as respondents. It was among documents displayed at the tribunal on Monday.
Speaking to TVC, Adedamola said he was not aware of the petition and had given no instruction to his lawyers to challenge the election result.
“There’s no petition filed by me or my counsel. So, I don’t know where they manufactured the petition they submitted at the tribunal,” he said.
The PDP candidate added that neither his lawyer nor party leaders had informed him of any plan to challenge Adeleke’s victory. He also said there had been no meeting where a decision was taken to pursue legal action over the election.
Adedamola said his position was consistent with his earlier support for Adeleke. He recalled that the PDP held a press conference on August 13, two days before the election, where the party publicly backed Adeleke.
He further said he personally voted for Adeleke, who contested under the Accord Party, during the August 15 poll. “I even voted for Governor Adeleke of the Accord party. Why would I now change today and be filing any petition against him?” he asked.
