Adeleke Rejects Deregistration Ruling, Says Accord Will Remain on August Ballot
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has faulted the Federal High Court judgment deregistering five political parties, describing the decision as a violation of a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal and an abuse of court process.
In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor expressed surprise that the Federal High Court proceeded to deliver judgment despite an order of the Court of Appeal staying further proceedings in the matter.
According to the statement, records presented before Justice Peter Lifu showed that the Court of Appeal, during proceedings on May 22, 2026, had made it clear that the delivery of judgment remained part of the court’s proceedings and was therefore covered by the stay order.
“It is on record before Honourable Justice Peter Lifu that in the proceedings of the Court of Appeal of May 22, 2026, tendered before the court as Exhibit MAC 2, the appellate court specifically pronounced that ‘the delivery of the judgment is still part of the proceedings of the court,'” the statement said.
Adeleke urged residents of Osun State to remain calm, assuring them that the Court of Appeal would address the matter when it sits on Tuesday.
He expressed confidence that the legal challenge against the ruling would succeed and that the Accord Party would remain on the ballot for the August 15 governorship election.
“I call on Osun people to remain calm and be assured that our rights will be affirmed and our party, Accord, will be on the ballot on August 15,” the governor said.
He added: “We will not only be on the ballot, we will win overwhelmingly in the forthcoming governorship election. We should remain calm and forge ahead with the mobilisation of our people.”
The governor further described the court action as an attempt to deny the people of Osun their democratic rights but maintained that justice would prevail.
“These efforts to stop Osun people from exercising their voting rights will fail by the special grace of Almighty God. The rule of law and humanity shall prevail at the end of the day,” he stated.
Adeleke also dismissed suggestions that the ruling would affect political activities already lined up by his party, insisting that the official flag-off of the governorship campaign would proceed as scheduled.
“I also want to assure our people that the flag-off of our campaign is holding as scheduled tomorrow. They want to distract us. We are going ahead and we are winning this election,” he said.
The governor disclosed that his legal team had already commenced steps to challenge the judgment.
“Our lawyers are taking all the necessary steps to right the wrong,” he added.
The Court of Appeal is expected to hear the matter on Tuesday as political stakeholders await further developments in the case.
