Osun Guber Battle Heats Up: Parties Clash Over Candidates and Court Orders

Political parties in Nigeria are actively engaging in various activities concerning upcoming elections, particularly the Osun State governorship election in 2026. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has publicly urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adhere to a recent Federal High Court judgment. This judgment mandates INEC to recognize the SDP's candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election and to upload the candidate's name onto its official nomination portal.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, the National Chairman of the SDP, emphasized that the court's decision, delivered by Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026, not only directed INEC to acknowledge their candidate but also affirmed the legitimacy of the SDP's current National Working Committee (NWC). This NWC, ratified on March 9, 2026, and reaffirmed at the party's National Convention on May 9, 2026, is recognized by INEC as the authentic leadership. Furthermore, the court validated the party’s governorship primary election, confirming it was duly conducted, monitored by INEC, and fully compliant with the Electoral Act and the SDP Constitution.

Prof. Gombe refuted claims made by the party’s expelled former National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, regarding party leadership. Gombe clarified that Gabam's reliance on a Court of Appeal decision in Fayemi Tosin Babatunde v. INEC was nullified when the Supreme Court set aside that decision on May 22, 2026. Following the Supreme Court's verdict, INEC reinstated Gombe as National Chairman, Dr. Olu Agunloye as National Secretary, and other authorized signatories to the party's accounts. The SDP has completed its primary elections across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and was the first political party to hold a national convention for the 2027 general election, where Adewole Adebayo emerged as its presidential candidate. The party also met all INEC deadlines for uploading candidates, including the June 26 deadline for National Assembly candidates and the July deadline for governorship candidates. Gombe reiterated that Dr. Ajala remains the legitimately nominated governorship candidate in Osun State, noting that the plaintiff in the lawsuit was neither an SDP governorship candidate nor a participant in the primary election. The party has appealed an earlier judgment from June 24, 2026, and is calling for INEC’s compliance with the latest court order, aligning with the Supreme Court’s established legal position.

In a related development concerning the Osun State governorship election, the Accord Party’s candidate for the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, Hon. Opeyemi David Falegan (ODF), has appealed to the people of Osun to re-elect Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15, 2026 governorship election. Falegan, in a statement released in Ado-Ekiti, lauded Governor Adeleke's first-term performance, describing it as deserving of continuity. He praised Governor Adeleke for demonstrating purposeful leadership through the equitable distribution of infrastructural projects across the state and significant improvements in the welfare of workers and pensioners.

Falegan cautioned Osun residents against risking their opportunity to further develop the state, emphasizing the importance of preventing a return to the past era of inconsistent or partial payment of workers' salaries. He asserted that the current administration under Governor Adeleke has successfully restored public confidence in governance by ensuring prompt salary payments and enhancing workers' welfare. The Accord Party chieftain highlighted the administration's notable achievements in infrastructure, including the construction and rehabilitation of hundreds of kilometers of roads, major flyovers, and the dualization of roads in key towns like Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Iwo, and Ikirun, alongside the rehabilitation of bridges and expansion of urban road networks.

Regarding workers' welfare, Falegan commended Governor Adeleke for consistently paying salaries, settling inherited salary arrears and pension liabilities, and implementing an improved minimum wage for state employees. He viewed these initiatives as clear evidence of a people-oriented administration dedicated to enhancing the living conditions of its citizens. Falegan specifically urged Ekiti indigenes and other non-indigenous residents in Osun State to participate actively in the August 15 election and vote for Governor Adeleke, stressing that continuity would solidify the developmental progress already achieved. He concluded by stating, “Governor Adeleke has laid a solid foundation for sustainable development. The people should protect these gains by voting massively for continuity on August 15.”