PDP Backs Adeleke In Osun Governorship Election After Court Ruling

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party for Saturday’s governorship election, despite a Court of Appeal ruling upholding its candidate, Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party said the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had upheld Adedamola’s nomination and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include the PDP logo on the ballot for the August 15 election.

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The party said the court held that PDP had conducted a valid primary monitored by INEC and had forwarded the winner’s name to the commission, adding that the nomination access code was merely an administrative requirement that could not override statutory provisions.

However, the PDP said the ruling came too late for its candidate to mount an effective campaign ahead of Saturday’s election.

“Though justice has finally been done, in this case the grant of justice is akin to a denial as there is no opportunity for our candidate to undertake campaigns in preparation for the elections,” the party said.

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The PDP accused INEC of bias and alleged that the commission had deliberately frustrated its candidate’s participation in the election.

The party said that, following consultations with key stakeholders, its Interim National Working Committee had therefore resolved to support Adeleke, a former PDP member who is seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform.

“As a true opposition party and in defence of multi-party democracy, and after exhaustive consultations with key stakeholders, the Committee has decided to support the candidature of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party for Saturday’s governorship elections,” the statement said.

It directed its members in Osun State to vote for Adeleke, while urging them to protect their votes and ensure they count.

The party also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to manipulate elections in areas where it lacked popular support, calling on Nigerians to resist what it described as the ruling party’s “do or die” approach to elections.

“Elections must be a true reflection of the peoples’ wish, freely expressed through the ballot. Anything short of that is robbery and must not be allowed to stand,” the PDP said.