Osun senator rejects claim Supreme Court ruling ended re-election bid

Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi has rejected claims that a recent Supreme Court judgment disqualified him from seeking re-election in 2027, saying his nomination by the Peoples Democratic Party remains valid. Fadeyi, who represents Osun Central Senatorial District, made the declaration in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Saturday. He said the process that produced him as the PDP candidate complied with the Constitution, electoral legislation and the party’s rules.

The Supreme Court had upheld an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission against a Court of Appeal decision concerning provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 on political party primaries and membership registers. A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro set aside the lower court’s judgment. The court ruled that Sections 77(5) and 84 of the Electoral Act did not conflict with the 1999 Constitution and awarded N2 million in costs against the Zenith Labour Party.

The Social Democratic Party and Youth Party also had separate appeals dismissed. Fadeyi said neither he nor the PDP was a party to the case, which involved the ZLP and other parties. He described reports of his disqualification as speculative and unfounded, and said the PDP had followed the applicable electoral requirements for its 2027 candidates.

He added that his candidacy was an internal party matter and said he had been affirmed as the PDP’s authentic candidate. Fadeyi also cited constitutional lawyers who, according to his statement, believe the judgment did not invalidate candidate names already published by INEC.