Ibadan North by-election: Tribunal to rule on PDP’s Oyekunle victory challenge
By Adejayan Gbenga –
The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan has scheduled a date to deliver judgment in the petition challenging the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle, in the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election.
On December 23, 2025, the tribunal adjourned proceedings for judgment after the parties closed their cases and adopted their respective written addresses in the petition, filed under suit number EPT/OY/HR/01/2025.
The petition was filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following the August 16, 2025 by-election.
The SDP is contesting the election and the return of Hon. Oyekunle, alleging non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. The party urged the tribunal to nullify the by-election and order a fresh or supplementary poll in affected polling units within the constituency.
In response, counsel to the PDP, Tunji Ogunrinde, SAN, filed a reply along with a notice of preliminary objection, challenging the competence of the petition.
He argued that the SDP failed to comply with relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition, describing it as frivolous, lacking merit, and an abuse of court process.
The tribunal’s judgment is expected to determine the validity of Hon. Oyekunle’s victory and could influence the political landscape of Ibadan North Federal Constituency.
