Oyo State ADC governorship ticket faces legal challenge

The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) regarding the governorship ticket in Oyo State has escalated following a lawsuit filed by aspirant Dr Azeez Adeduntan. The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, names the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ADC leadership as respondents, alongside Olooye Adegboyega Adegoke.

According to the legal proceedings, the ADC leadership submitted Adegoke’s name to INEC as the party’s candidate for Oyo State on August 5, 2026. This development has been used by the Oyo Youth Alliance (OYA) to challenge the claims of Gbemileke Alagbe, who had previously asserted he was the validly elected candidate and had appointed a deputy governorship candidate.

OYA noted that the details in Adeduntan’s originating summons suggest that Adegoke is the individual recognized by the party’s national leadership for the election.