Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, representing Osun Central in the National Assembly, has clarified that the recent Supreme Court judgment on political party primaries and membership registers does not disqualify him from contesting the 2027 elections. Fadeyi made this statement on Saturday, September 27, 2026, in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State. He emphasized that speculations about his disqualification are baseless and misleading.
The Supreme Court had upheld an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against a Court of Appeal judgment that voided parts of the Electoral Act 2026. The Court of Appeal's decision had favored the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in a case against the Federal High Court's ruling. However, the Supreme Court's seven-member panel, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, set aside the Court of Appeal's decision and upheld the trial court's judgment.
The Supreme Court's judgment declared that Sections 77(5) and 84 of the Electoral Act do not conflict with the 1999 Constitution. The court also awarded N2 million in costs against the ZLP. Fadeyi maintained that his PDP primary, which he won to re-contest for the Osun Central Senatorial District in 2027, complied strictly with the Constitution and the Electoral Acts.
Fadeyi dismissed speculation that the Supreme Court judgment had truncated his second-term ambition, describing it as a ploy by opponents afraid of his electoral chances. He stated that there is no clear evidence of his disqualification from any court sitting, making reports of his alleged disqualification speculative and unfounded.
According to Fadeyi, the processes to award the PDP ticket for his second term in office were clear, legal, and approved by all relevant party executives. The PDP followed the provisions of electoral law, and everything was done in accordance with the law and the party's laid-down rules.
Fadeyi also noted that the PDP, as a party, followed the electoral law for all its party candidates in the 2027 general elections. He emphasized that neither the PDP nor he was a party to the suit that led to the Supreme Court judgment; the main parties involved were the ZLP and the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
Constitutional lawyers have stated that the recent Supreme Court judgment does not invalidate the names of candidates already published by INEC. Fadeyi's statement concluded by reiterating that the judgment does not affect his eligibility to contest the 2027 elections.
Key points
- Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi says he is not disqualified from the 2027 elections despite the Supreme Court judgment on political party primaries.
- The Supreme Court upheld INEC's appeal against the Court of Appeal's judgment on the Electoral Act 2026.
- Fadeyi's PDP primary was conducted in compliance with the Constitution and Electoral Acts, he asserts.
