INEC declares Ademola Adeleke as authentic PDP candidate for Osun election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday certified Ademola Adeleke of the People Democratic Party (PDP) as the candidate of the main opposition party for the July 16 governorship election in Osun.

The former senator appeared on the final list of cleared nominees for the election published on Friday by the electoral office. The move consequently resolved questions hanging over whether Mr Adeleke was the candidate or Dotun Babayemi, who had launched a factional body of the party in Osun ahead of the primaries last month.

Adegboyega Oyetola, the incumbent governor, was listed as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

The electoral umpire also affirmed others including Omigbodun Oyegoke, Social Democratic Party; Abede Adetona Samuel, National Rescue Mission; Oyelekan Akingbade, Labor Party; Adebayo Adeolu Elisha, Action People’s Party; Awoyemi Oluwatayo, Allied People’s Movement; and Awojide Peter Segun, African Action Congress.

Those also cleared include Akande Victor Babalola, Accord Party; Adesuyi John Olufemi, Zenith Labour Party; Kehinde Munirudeen Atanda, Action Democratic Party; Ademola Bayonle Adeseye, Young Progressive Party; Ayowole Olubusuyi Adedeji, People’s Redemption Party; Saliu Rasak Oyelami, New Nigería People’s Party and Adeleke Adesoji Masilo Aderemi, Boot Party.

AA, APGA, ADC were disqualified from the exercise for failing to satisfy electoral rules.