We never said Osun governorship election was completely free, fair — Adegoke SAN

Mercy Iheoma Ihedigbo

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and political activist, Kunle Adegoke, has said the withdrawal of petitions challenging the outcome of the 2026 Osun State governorship election should not be interpreted as an endorsement that the election was completely free and fair.

Adegoke said the decision was primarily aimed at allowing the state to move beyond the post-election dispute, preserve peace and prevent political disagreements from escalating into prolonged tension.

He spoke during an exclusive interview on Thursday on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.

The August 15 election saw Governor Ademola Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 511,067 votes, ahead of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.

The post-election controversy intensified in September after petitions purportedly filed by the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging Adeleke’s victory were displayed at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo.

The APC legal team subsequently disowned the petition, with Adegoke stating that the party’s legal team had not authorised a challenge to the election. The petition was later withdrawn following fresh instructions from the party and its leaders.

The PDP also distanced itself from a separate petition, saying the document did not emanate from the party or its candidate, Adebayo Adedamola.

Explaining the decision, Adegoke said the political actors involved had resolved to allow bygones to be bygones, particularly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated Adeleke on his victory.

“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.

He, however, stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as a declaration that there were no reservations 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 a doubt here and there,” Adegoke said.

The SAN explained that political actors could acknowledge an election result while still retaining reservations about aspects of the electoral process.

According to him, the decision was fundamentally about allowing Osun State to move forward rather than prolonging a political contest through litigation.

“We are statesmen, we are citizens in positions. We have resolved that nothing we want to become. And we wanted to progress to be served. But the eventual situation does not permit us to plunge into the position of service. We will not turn the state into turmoil,” he said.

Adegoke maintained that withdrawing the petition was not a surrender of political principles or an admission that the election result was beyond question.

Rather, he described the decision as an expression of political sportsmanship and a willingness to place the broader interests of the people above a prolonged battle for political power.

“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 lawyer also said the APC legal team had not formally protested the election through the party.

“We did not know anything about it, particularly the petition. We were not. We did not know the petition,” he said.

He added that the party subsequently took steps to withdraw from the process, insisting that the development should not be portrayed as a formal challenge to the election.

Adegoke further linked the decision to what he described as a broader philosophy of political conduct, arguing that electoral victories should not create permanent hostility among contestants.

“When you contest an election, and you win, it is not a licence 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 stressed that political opponents should not automatically be regarded as enemies.
“The person against whom I contested is not my enemy. We must merely be contestants. We both wanted to serve the same society,” he said.

Adegoke urged political actors to distinguish between political competition and personal hostility, stressing that the development of Osun should remain the central objective.

“For the interest of sportsmanship, and the good relationship and relations to him, we are supposed to work together to ensure the success of our society,” he said.

Adegoke’s Senate Ambition

Adegoke, who is seeking to represent Osun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said his political ambition would not prevent him from working with opponents where such cooperation would benefit the people.

He said his aspiration to occupy the Senate was driven by a desire to contribute to the development of Osun Central and use the district as a model for effective representation.

“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,” Adegoke said.

He said his legislative agenda would include constituency projects across the 10 local government areas of the senatorial district, with projects tailored to the specific needs of each community.

“I will use my legislative position to 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,” he said.

The SAN also promised effective legislative oversight, stressing that the National Assembly’s supervisory responsibilities extend beyond sanctioning members of the executive who violate the law.

“These are part of the supervisory functions that I am going to ensure that we carry out. It is not always when we want to probably discipline somebody in the executive who has committed an offence and what have you alone, that the National Assembly will have to come in,” he said.

On constituency projects, Adegoke said public funds should be deployed according to the actual needs of constituents.

“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.

He also said he would consult widely if elected, acknowledging that effective representation required listening to the people and drawing on relevant knowledge and expertise.

“I cannot work in isolation,” he said.

Adegoke said his approach to politics would be based on cooperation, adding that political differences should not prevent elected representatives and their opponents from working together for the benefit of society.

“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 maintained that the ultimate responsibility of politicians was to ensure that political competition did not destroy the society they sought to govern.

According to him, public office should be approached with restraint, humility and a commitment to service.

Adegoke said the withdrawal of the petitions should therefore be understood as a decision to prevent an electoral disagreement from becoming a source of prolonged political tension, rather than as a declaration that the election had no controversy.

He urged political actors to allow the state to move forward and enable the people to benefit from peaceful governance.
“Let society enjoy its peace. Let the poor breathe,” Adegoke said.