Politics
Osun Election: APC Rejects Adeleke’s Victory, Weighs Legal Challenge
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has rejected the suggestion that the 2026 governorship election ended with the declaration of Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party as winner, saying it is currently reviewing the results before deciding whether to challenge the outcome in court.
The party said it would consult its legal team and examine what it described as alleged irregularities surrounding the electoral process before determining its next course of action.
The APC’s position was contained in a statement issued in Osogbo on Sunday by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, following the declaration of Adeleke as winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Adeleke was declared winner after securing 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.
The result gave Adeleke a margin of 66,252 votes over Oyebamiji.
APC says election process is not over
Despite INEC’s declaration, the APC said the electoral process could continue through the judicial system if the party concludes that there are sufficient grounds to challenge the outcome.
Olabisi stressed that the declaration of a winner does not automatically prevent an aggrieved political party or candidate from seeking legal redress.
“We are not unaware of the fact that an election is a process which begins with the registration of voters, through the primary election to the election proper, and extends to the tribunal, the Court of Appeal, and terminates at the Supreme Court,” he said.
The statement suggests that the APC is yet to make a final decision on whether it will file an election petition.
Instead, the party said it is examining the results and consulting its lawyers before determining whether the available evidence justifies litigation.
Party alleges irregularities
The APC said its decision would be based on its assessment of alleged irregularities recorded during the election.
However, in its statement, the party did not provide a detailed breakdown of the specific polling units, local government areas or electoral procedures it intends to challenge.
The party’s legal team is expected to review the available election materials, including results from polling units and collation centres, before making a recommendation to the party leadership.
Such a review would ordinarily determine whether the alleged irregularities were substantial enough to affect the overall outcome of the election.
For the APC, the central question will therefore be whether the evidence it gathers can establish that the electoral process substantially affected the final result.
Adeleke’s victory followed intense contest
The development comes less than 24 hours after INEC formally declared Adeleke the winner of the keenly contested election.
The incumbent governor, contesting on the platform of the Accord Party, secured 511,067 votes across the state.
Oyebamiji, the APC candidate, polled 444,815 votes, while Salaam of the ADC recorded 17,180 votes.
The contest had attracted significant attention because of its potential implications for the wider political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Both the APC and Accord Party deployed substantial political structures during the campaign, while several smaller parties and candidates made strategic decisions in the final days of the race.
The election also witnessed a series of political endorsements and withdrawals.
The PDP governorship candidate, Adedamola Adebayo, popularly known as FRYO, withdrew from the race shortly before the election and endorsed Adeleke.
Similarly, APGA candidate Adesina Adeyemi-Doro stepped down and declared support for Oyebamiji.
Those developments added another layer to an already competitive contest and made the final result particularly significant for the major political blocs.
APC urges supporters to remain calm
While signalling a possible legal battle, the APC urged its members and supporters to remain peaceful.
The party appealed to its supporters not to react to what it described as provocations from members of the ruling party.
It also commended its members for their commitment throughout the election process.
“We commend the steadfastness, sagacity and loyalty of the numerous members and supporters of our party for their contributions in getting to this juncture in the political history of the state,” Olabisi said.
The call for calm is significant given the tensions that surrounded the election campaign and the heightened political rhetoric in the days preceding the poll.
What a legal challenge could mean
If the APC ultimately proceeds with litigation, the dispute could move the political contest from the ballot box into the courtroom.
Under Nigeria’s electoral dispute resolution framework, a governorship election petition is initially determined by an election tribunal, with dissatisfied parties able to appeal to the Court of Appeal and, where applicable, the Supreme Court.
However, simply rejecting an election result does not establish that the result was invalid. A petitioning party would need to present admissible evidence capable of satisfying the relevant legal requirements for overturning the declared result.
The APC’s decision will therefore depend largely on the evidence gathered during its review.
For Adeleke and his supporters, the declaration by INEC gives the Accord Party candidate the immediate mandate to continue as governor.
For the APC, the coming days will determine whether its objections remain political statements or develop into a formal legal challenge.
Osun enters a new phase after election
The development has opened a new phase in Osun’s political contest.
While the election itself has ended, the possibility of litigation means the final political chapter may not yet be closed.
The APC’s decision to review the results also places renewed attention on the conduct of the election, the collation process and the evidence available to the parties.
For now, INEC’s declaration remains the official result: Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is the winner of the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
The APC, however, is signalling that it is not prepared to accept the outcome without first examining every available legal avenue.
Whether that examination culminates in an election petition will depend on the findings of the party’s legal team.
A coalition of Ogoni youth groups has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, insisting that the creation of Bori State must be given priority in the process.
The Coalition of Ogoni Youth Groups (COYOG) made the demand in a statement jointly signed by 17 youth leaders, including Chief Kpakol Kpakol of the Ogoni National Youth Congress and Gen. Ikeh Albert Jnr of the Khana Youth Assembly, on Saturday.
The coalition warned against attempts by politicians and other vested interests to hijack the dialogue process for personal or political gains, stressing that its outcomes must reflect the collective aspirations of the Ogoni people.
It described the dialogue as a collective struggle for justice, environmental restoration, political inclusion, resource control and sustainable development.
On the leadership of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, COYOG clarified that Professor Don Baridam remains its substantive leader, warning against attempts by individuals to assume authority outside the established structure.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful advocacy, the coalition insisted that the dialogue process must remain inclusive and accountable, adding that its recommendations should translate into measurable benefits for the Ogoni people.
“The Ogoni dialogue belongs to the Ogoni people. Its outcomes must serve the Ogoni people. Its implementation must be transparent, inclusive and measurable,” the statement added.
Former member of the House of Representatives, Dachung Bagos, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) rerun primary election for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State.
Bagos defeated his challenger, Esther Simi Dusu, in the rerun exercise conducted across 11 wards on Wednesday, following a court order nullifying the previous primary election over alleged irregularities.
The Chairman of the APC Rerun Electoral Committee, Simon Elisha, announced the results on Thursday at the party’s state secretariat, Kalwa House, in Jos.
According to the results, Bagos polled 12,181 votes to defeat Dusu, who secured 2,495 votes.
Elisha said the rerun election was conducted in compliance with the court order and in accordance with the party’s guidelines.
“The rerun was conducted in compliance with the court order and in line with the party’s guidelines to ensure transparency and fairness,” he said.
The rerun followed a decision by the High Court in Jos to nullify the earlier primary election over alleged irregularities in 11 wards within the federal constituency.
The affected wards are Du, Shen, Zawan ‘B’, Turu, Fobur ‘A’, Fobur ‘B’, Jarawan Kogi, Maijuju/Doss, Federe, Shere East and Shere West.
The court-ordered exercise was organised to address the irregularities identified in the previous primary election and determine the party’s candidate for the constituency.
With his victory, Bagos is set to represent the APC in the contest for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election.
Bagos previously represented the constituency in the House of Representatives.
His emergence as the party’s candidate places him in contention for another term in the Green Chamber, subject to the outcome of the 2027 general election.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has warned individuals he accused of terrorising Nigerians, declaring that his party would confront insecurity and intimidation if elected in 2027.
“Those who think they can terrorize this country, wait, we’re coming,” Obi said during the opening of the NDC’s national secretariat in Jabi, Abuja, on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The remark came as the party formally opened its national headquarters and intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections. The event brought together Obi, his running mate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, NDC leaders and other party members.
Obi Puts Insecurity at the Centre of His Message
Obi’s statement signals that security is expected to feature prominently in the NDC’s campaign messaging ahead of the next presidential election.
Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges, including insurgency, kidnapping, armed attacks and communal violence in different parts of the country. These problems have affected communities, disrupted economic activities and generated demands for stronger protection of lives and property.
At the Abuja event, Obi presented his political project as an effort to change how government responds to the country’s challenges. Reports of his remarks also highlighted commitments to address corruption, poverty, unemployment and insecurity.
However, the brief statement quoted above did not identify a particular group or individual as the target of his warning. It would therefore be premature to attribute the remark to a specific organisation or political opponent without further evidence.
NDC Opens National Headquarters Ahead of 2027
The secretariat opening marked another organisational step for the NDC as it builds its structures ahead of the elections.
The ceremony followed the party’s National Executive Committee meeting and formed part of a wider programme that included unveiling its National Campaign Council and presenting Certificates of Return to candidates contesting different offices.
Kwankwaso, the party’s vice-presidential candidate, attended alongside National Leader Seriake Dickson, National Chairman Moses Cleopas and other party figures.
The new facility is expected to serve as the party’s administrative headquarters and a centre for coordinating its national political activities.
Security and Accountability in the 2027 Campaign
Obi’s warning comes as political parties begin defining their messages for the 2027 election, with security, economic hardship and public accountability among the issues likely to feature prominently.
For voters, the significance of security promises will depend not only on campaign statements but also on the policies, resources and implementation plans candidates present.
Measures to improve security can involve intelligence gathering, police and military capacity, coordination between federal and state authorities, criminal investigations, justice delivery and support for communities affected by violence.
Obi’s statement did not set out specific measures in the quoted passage. Further policy details would be needed to assess how the NDC proposes to address the different forms of insecurity affecting the country.
The remark nevertheless makes clear that the party intends to present security and protection from intimidation as part of its campaign message.
As the 2027 election approaches, the challenge for all political parties will be to explain how their proposals would be implemented and how progress would be measured.
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