Osun Central Drama: Adekunle Rejects Fadeyi’s PDP Ticket Claim, Threatens Court Battle

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial aspirant in Osun State, Ibraheem Adekunle, has reaffirmed that he remains the party’s legitimate candidate for the Osun Central Senatorial District in the build-up to the 2027 general election.

Adekunle made the declaration in Osogbo on Friday while responding to claims by Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi that he had secured the PDP’s ticket for the district following his return to the party.

Fadeyi recently announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and rejoined the PDP, where he claimed to have emerged as the party’s senatorial candidate under a faction of the opposition party.

However, Adekunle dismissed the claim, insisting that he remains the duly nominated PDP candidate. He also warned that he would pursue legal action against any attempt to replace his name on the list of candidates already submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to him, he emerged through a validly conducted PDP primary election and his nomination complied with both the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Adekunle also questioned the circumstances surrounding Fadeyi’s return to the PDP, arguing that the timeline of his political activities raised serious legal concerns about his eligibility to claim the party’s ticket.

He noted that although Fadeyi was reportedly granted a PDP waiver on May 8, 2026, records showed he went on to participate in the APC senatorial primary held on May 18, 2026.

“It has been claimed that Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi obtained a waiver from the PDP on May 8, 2026. However, available records indicate that he subsequently participated in the APC senatorial primary election held on May 18, 2026, for the same office.

“This raises a fundamental question: if he had already become a PDP member through the alleged waiver on May 8, under what legal or constitutional basis did he purchase APC nomination forms, submit APC nomination documents, undergo APC screening, campaign as an APC aspirant and eventually participate in the APC primary election 10 days later?

“Political party membership cannot exist in two parties at the same time. These are issues that require clear legal explanation.”

Adekunle maintained that these issues should be addressed before any attempt is made to recognize Fadeyi as the PDP candidate.

‘Nomination Process Was Already Completed’

The PDP aspirant further argued that the party had concluded its nomination process for the Osun Central Senatorial District before Fadeyi took part in the APC primary election.

He explained that the process included the sale of nomination forms, screening of aspirants, the conduct of the primary election, declaration of the winner and submission of the successful candidate’s details to INEC.

Adekunle said he was the only aspirant who participated in the PDP primary and emerged in accordance with the party’s guidelines and the Electoral Act.

According to him, his name was subsequently submitted to INEC and uploaded on the commission’s nomination portal.

“My name was duly submitted by the PDP to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the primary election and was subsequently uploaded on the Commission’s nomination portal in accordance with the law.

“I therefore remain the authentic and validly nominated PDP candidate for Osun Central Senatorial District.”

He warned against any attempt to substitute his name with that of another aspirant, insisting that his nomination was legally valid and that he would not hesitate to seek judicial intervention if his candidacy was tampered with.