The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that despite the Court of Appeal’s judgment that the PDP candidate be included in the Osun State governorship elections, the party will not field any candidate in the elections.
Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, told The Nation that they filed a stay of execution and appealed the judgment.
A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday that the candidate sponsored by the Tanimu Turaki camp of the PDP be allowed to participate in the election. 
Under the electoral guidelines, only party leadership recognised by the Commission and listed in its database can present candidates for an election, but the Turaki camp is not recognised by the Commission.
Oketola said the Commission was proceeding with the conduct of the Osun elections, adding that neither of the two PDP camps was presenting any candidate for the election.
National Publicity Secretary of the Wike-backed National Working Committee, Jagunda Haruna Mohammed, said they were not presenting any candidate for the elections because Gov. Ademola Adeleke, the only person who bought the party nomination form, pulled out of the party.
Oketola said, “Although the Court of Appeal delivered a judgment on Thursday directing the inclusion of the PDP on the ballot, I want to make it clear that the judgment does not affect the Commission’s operational arrangements for tomorrow’s election. The Osun State Governorship Election remains scheduled for Saturday, 15 August 2026.
“INEC has already taken the necessary legal steps by filing an appeal against the judgment, together with an application for a Stay of Execution. The Commission will continue to pursue the matter through the appropriate judicial process while maintaining its preparations for the election.
“From an operational standpoint, the situation on the ground remains clear. Neither faction of the PDP is presently fielding an active candidate in the election. Accordingly, the judgment does not affect the Commission’s existing preparations or the conduct of tomorrow’s poll.
“There is no postponement or disruption to tomorrow’s election. The Commission’s logistical arrangements across Osun State are in place, and the necessary security arrangements have been made. Voting will commence at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow as scheduled.”
