The legal counsel to Oyo State governorship aspirant of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oloye Saheed Oladele, has accused a party chieftain, Mr. Michael Okunlade, of unlawfully proclaiming himself the party’s governorship candidate and attempting to undermine Oladele’s candidacy ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
In a letter dated and signed by the Principal Partner of Akinlolu Oyebamiji Chambers, Mr. Akinlolu Oyebamiji, the solicitor claimed to be acting on the instruction of Oladele, whom he described as the “recognized and sole gubernatorial candidate” of the SDP in Oyo State.
According to the letter, Okunlade allegedly declared himself the party’s governorship candidate during a meeting held on July 14, 2026, at the SDP Secretariat in Bodija, Ibadan. The lawyer further alleged that Okunlade informed party members at the meeting of plans to introduce another governorship aspirant to the party and directed Oladele to stop presenting himself as the SDP candidate.
The letter also alleged that Okunlade constituted an electoral committee, led by the party’s Youth Leader, Damola Fantola, with Assistant Youth Leader, Tijani Afeez Adigun, also known as “OmoLeader,” serving as secretary, for the purpose of declaring himself the party’s governorship candidate during the party’s primary election held on May 24, 2026.
Oladele’s lawyer further claimed that his client had made several financial contributions to the party, including payments for the SDP state and local government congresses, the party’s national convention in Bauchi, and arrangements for the governorship primary election.
The solicitor maintained that Oladele remained the only legitimate governorship candidate of the SDP in Oyo State, arguing that he was the sole aspirant who procured, completed, and submitted the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline of May 31, 2026.
The letter also referenced comments reportedly made by the SDP National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Abubakar Gombe, stating that all aspirants who purchased nomination forms and paid through the party’s official account would be recognized, regardless of the party leadership under which the forms were obtained.
The lawyer further accused Okunlade of attempting to transfer the party’s governorship ticket to another aspirant, identified as Ibadan Mogaji Olusegun Abiodun Agboola, describing the alleged move as a violation of the Electoral Act 2026 and an attempt to appropriate his client’s mandate.
The letter warned that any individual who was not a duly registered member of the SDP before the INEC deadline could not legally emerge as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
Oladele’s solicitor demanded that Okunlade immediately cease presenting himself as the SDP governorship candidate or making efforts to market the party’s ticket, warning that failure to comply could result in legal and other consequences.
Copies of the letter were also addressed to the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
As of the time of filing this report, Mr. Michael Okunlade had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the letter. The SDP leadership in Oyo State also had not issued an official statement on the matter.
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