The withdrawal of petitions challenging the outcome of the 2026 Osun State governorship election should not be interpreted as an admission that the poll was completely free and fair, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and political activist, Kunle Adegoke, has said.
Adegoke made the clarification on Thursday during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, Ogun State, where he discussed the legal and political implications of the withdrawal of petitions challenging Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election.
The controversy followed the August 15 governorship election in which Adeleke, candidate of the Accord Party, was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
Although petitions purportedly filed by the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were subsequently displayed at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo, both parties later denied authorising the legal challenges.
According to Adegoke, the decision to withdraw from the litigation was driven by the need to prevent political disagreements from plunging the state into further tension and to allow the people to move beyond the election dispute.
He said the decision followed consultations among political actors and a resolution to allow bygones to be bygones, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had also congratulated Adeleke after the election.
“We are members, we are resolved to let bygone be bygone. And on that basis, our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, came out with a release where he congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke,” he said.
However, Adegoke stressed that the congratulatory gesture should not be interpreted as a declaration that there were no concerns about the conduct of the election.
“The implication is that we are not saying that the election was free and fair, completely without any shadow of word of view here and there,” the SAN said.
He explained that political actors could acknowledge an electoral outcome while retaining reservations about aspects of the process, maintaining that the decision was primarily aimed at allowing Osun to move forward rather than prolonging political disagreements through litigation.
Adegoke said, “We are statesmen, we are citizens in positions. We have resolved that nothing we want to become. And it is clear that we wanted to progress to be served. But the eventual situation does not permit us to plunge the position of service. We will not turn the state into turmoil.”
He described the decision as a conscious choice to place the interest of the people above an extended battle for political power, rather than a surrender of political principles or an admission that the election result was beyond question.
“The decision, notwithstanding the results of the election, is a confirmation of our own humanity and our own desire to serve the people, and fight for power and for office,” he said.
The APC’s legal team had earlier said it decided, after consultations with Oyebamiji and party leaders, not to challenge the election, citing the need to reduce tension and maintain peace in the state. The petition was subsequently withdrawn by the counsel who filed it after receiving fresh instructions from the party and its leaders.
The PDP also disowned the petition filed in its name, saying its candidate, Adebayo Adedamola, had not authorised any legal challenge to the election.
Adegoke maintained that his side had not formally protested the election through the APC as represented in the disputed process.
“We did not know anything about it, particularly the petition. We were not. We did not. We did not the petition,” he said, adding that the party subsequently took steps to withdraw from the process.
The SAN said political competition should not be allowed to create permanent hostility among members of the same society, stressing that electoral victory comes with the responsibility to serve the people.
“When you contest an election and you win, it is not a license to be hypocritical, that is to be arrogant or become complacent. It is a mandate given to you to serve the people,” he said.
He added, “The person against whom I contested is not my enemy. We must merely contestants. We both wanted to serve the same society.”
Adegoke, who is seeking to represent Osun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said his political ambition would not prevent him from cooperating with opponents when such collaboration would benefit the people.
“I want to develop Osun Central. I want to use Osun Central as a template that will show what I would have done were I to be in the executive,” he said.
He also promised to use his proposed legislative position to facilitate constituency projects across the 10 local government areas in the district, while ensuring that projects reflect the specific needs of each community.
“I will use my legislative position to now ensure that constituency projects will be constructed in all the 10 local governments and will take into consideration the needs of that particular local government,” Adegoke said.
The lawyer further pledged effective legislative oversight, noting that the National Assembly’s supervisory responsibility extends beyond disciplining members of the executive who violate the law.
He said constituency projects were funded with public resources and should therefore be designed around the needs of the people rather than the personal interests of lawmakers.
“When it comes to constituency projects, yes, I mean, it is not my father’s money. It is government money that they are appropriating,” he said.
Adegoke also stressed the importance of consultation, saying he would not operate in isolation if elected.
“We are supposed to work together to ensure the success of our society. I will reach out to my opponents to see how we can better the lot of our society. I’m not going to do it in isolation, so long as they are willing to cooperate with me,” he said.
He maintained that the withdrawal of the petitions should therefore be viewed as an effort to prevent an electoral disagreement from becoming a prolonged source of political tension, while urging all political actors to prioritise the development and peace of Osun State.
“Let society enjoy its peace. Let the poor breathe,” Adegoke said.
