News Investigators/ Chief Saheed Oladele, the sole governorship aspirant of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2027 election in Oyo State, has sued his party’s leadership and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged violation of the Electoral Act.
The suit was filed at the Federal High Court in Ibadan on Friday on his behalf by his counsel, Mr Akinlolu Oyebamiji.
The suit is challenging the submission of Mr Michael Okunlade’s name to INEC as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 general election in Oyo State.
In the originating summon filed before the court and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, the applicant alleged that the party’s substitution and nomination process breached statutory regulations and did not comply with the Electoral Act 2026.
He said that Okunlade, who currently serves as the Oyo State Chairman of the party and whose name was submitted as the party’s governorship candidate, did not obtain the requisite expression of interest and nomination forms prior to the expiration of INEC deadline.
Oyebamiji, in the originating summon filed before the court said his client was the sole governorship aspirant that obtained the party’s expression of interest and nomination form before the INEC deadline.
“The foundation of candidate nomination requires adherence to statutory procedures.
“In this instance, no nomination form was obtained by Okunlade nor did our client execute any instrument of withdrawal or consent as required by law,” the counsel said.
He prayed for an order of the court to declare the imposition of Mr Michael Okunlade as the SDP consensus candidate in Oyo State, without the consensus or consent of the only participating aspirant during the INEC nomination window, as null and void.
Oyebamiji further prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Okunlade from presenting or parading himself as the Oyo State governorship candidate of SDP for the 2027 election.
“An order restraining INEC and the national executives of the SDP from recognising Okunlade as the validly nominated candidate of SDP.
“An order directing the party and the electoral commission to recognise Saheed Oladele as the sole SDP governorship candidate for 2027 governorship election in Oyo State,” the counsel prayed.
Oyebamiji further urged the court to make an order directing INEC to upload the name of his client, Chief Saheed Oladele onto its candidate portal for the upcoming 2027 general election.
The court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the preliminary application filed by the plaintiff.
NAN