OSUN PETITION MATTER: APC MISS COURT BUS AS ADELEKE VICTORY ENTER PEACE MODE

For Osun politics, the election drama don apparently reach one unexpected junction: the result don enter tribunal window, but petition no follow am enter. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bola Oyebamiji, wey come second for the August 15 governorship election, no file petition against Governor Ademola Adeleke before the constitutional deadline expire on September 5. The matter don therefore turn from “see you for court” to “maybe we go see you for another political gathering.” The Constitution gives candidates and parties 21 days after declaration of result to file election petitions.

APC: NO PETITION AS 21 DAYS DON FINISH, TRIBUNAL STILL DEY WAIT

INEC declare Adeleke winner after he collect 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji score 444,815 votes, giving Adeleke a lead of more than 66,000 votes. Adeleke also win 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji take 11. So when the petition window finally close, the tribunal no get petition to begin another round of electoral legal wrestling.

For satirical observers, na like football team wey spend weeks preparing to appeal referee decision, only to reach appeal office and discover say the complaint form don close. But make nobody mistake the joke for the law: election petition na serious constitutional process, and Section 285(5) provides that the petition must be filed within 21 days after the result is declared. Once that window close, the legal road for challenging that particular election result through a petition becomes a very different matter.

APC AND PETITION :21 DAYS PASS LIKE NEPA BLINK

The development means Adeleke’s victory is presently unchallenged at the election tribunal. None of the 14 defeated parties reportedly filed a petition within the stipulated period. For Adeleke supporters, the news fit sound like Christmas carol; for political watchers, however, euphoria still need small moderation because politics no dey sleep, and future developments can always generate fresh headlines.

The 2026 Osun contest itself was closely watched, with Adeleke defeating Oyebamiji after a campaign involving two major political camps and 15 parties on the ballot. Independent election observers, including Yiaga Africa, said the final result fell within their statistical projection for Adeleke, while other observers called for scrutiny of reported electoral irregularities. But whatever political argument remains, the tribunal petition deadline has now passed without a petition being filed.

For now, Osun election matter don leave tribunal door without petition, and Governor Adeleke’s victory remains unchallenged through that process. Whether APC and Oyebamiji will make any further political statement about the outcome, or whether another chapter go emerge from the Osun political book, na something wey OGM News Pidgin go continue to watch closely. Stay with OGM News Pidgin for future updates.