OYO SDP CRISIS DEEPENS: GUBER ASPIRANT OLADELE DRAGS PARTY, INEC TO COURT OVER OKUNLADE’S ‘CONSENSUS’ TICKET
The crisis rocking the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State has escalated into a full-blown legal battle as one of the party’s governorship aspirants, Oloye Saheed Oladele, has dragged the party leadership and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High Court in Ibadan over the emergence of Michael Okunlade as the party’s purported “consensus candidate” for the 2027 governorship election.
Oladele, through his counsel, Akinlolu Oyebamiji of AOC Chambers, is challenging the legality of the process through which Okunlade’s name was presented to INEC, alleging that the process breached provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and applicable nomination requirements.
The suit, filed by way of originating summons, seeks to stop INEC and the national leadership of the SDP from recognising Okunlade as the party’s valid candidate for the 2027 Oyo governorship election.
At the heart of the legal battle is Oladele’s claim that Okunlade never obtained the requisite Expression of Interest and nomination forms within the period prescribed for the nomination process.
Oladele’s camp argues that he was the only aspirant who obtained the required nomination documents before the expiration of the relevant INEC deadline, making the subsequent emergence of another candidate through what the claimant describes as a “consensus” arrangement legally questionable.
More damagingly, Oladele alleges that he never signed any document withdrawing from the race, nor did he give his consent to the purported consensus arrangement that produced Okunlade.
His lawyer told the court that the foundation of any legitimate candidate-substitution or consensus process must be anchored on compliance with the law and the consent required from participating aspirants.
The claimant is therefore asking the court to declare the alleged imposition of Okunlade as the SDP consensus candidate null, void and without legal effect.
He is also asking for an order permanently restraining Okunlade from presenting or parading himself as the SDP governorship candidate in Oyo State for the 2027 election.
In addition, Oladele wants the court to restrain INEC and the national executives of the SDP from recognising Okunlade as the party’s validly nominated candidate and to direct the party and electoral commission to recognise him as the SDP’s legitimate governorship candidate.
The development is potentially embarrassing for a party attempting to position itself as an alternative political force ahead of the 2027 elections.
The controversy is particularly significant because Okunlade had previously emerged from a consensus arrangement announced by the Oyo SDP. Reports at the time said the process was conducted at a party congress monitored by INEC officials.
But Oladele’s lawsuit now puts the legality of that process squarely before the court.
The claimant is essentially asking the judiciary to determine whether a political party can validly present a candidate as its “consensus” flag bearer when, according to his claim, the other aspirant did not sign any withdrawal document or consent to the arrangement.
The court’s eventual decision could therefore have significant implications for the SDP’s 2027 governorship campaign in Oyo State.
For now, what began as an internal party disagreement has become a legal confrontation involving the party, its purported candidate and Nigeria’s electoral umpire—with the SDP’s Oyo governorship ticket hanging in the balance.
