Why PDP Won’t Participate In Osun Governorship Election – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not have a candidate on the ballot in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election despite a recent Court of Appeal ruling.

According to Ireporter Online, the Court of Appeal on Thursday directed INEC to include the candidate backed by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP in the election.

However, INEC said it had challenged the judgment and filed an application seeking a stay of execution, meaning the commission would proceed with the election based on its existing arrangements.

The commission’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, explained that INEC’s electoral guidelines require candidates to be nominated by the recognised leadership of a political party listed in the commission’s database.

He said the commission does not recognise the Turaki-led faction of the PDP and, consequently, did not accept the candidate presented by the faction for the Osun governorship election.

Oketola further stated that neither of the two rival PDP factions currently has an active candidate participating in the election.

He said, “Although the Court of Appeal delivered a judgment on Thursday directing the inclusion of the PDP on the ballot, I want to make it clear that the judgment does not affect the Commission’s operational arrangements for tomorrow’s election.”

He added that INEC had already filed an appeal against the judgment alongside an application for a stay of execution and would continue to pursue the matter through the appropriate judicial channels.

The electoral commission maintained that the legal dispute would not affect the conduct of the election, insisting that all logistical and security arrangements were already in place across the state.

“There is no postponement or disruption to tomorrow’s election. The Commission’s logistical arrangements across Osun State are in place, and the necessary security arrangements have been made. Voting will commence at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow (today) as scheduled,” Oketola stated.

INEC therefore maintained that the Osun governorship election would proceed as planned on Saturday, August 15, 2026, despite the ongoing legal battle over the PDP’s participation.