The withdrawal of petitions challenging the 2026 Osun State governorship election has been hailed as a crucial step toward preserving peace and reducing unnecessary financial strain, according to Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Adegoke. Speaking on Thursday during a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese Ijebu, Adegoke emphasized that ending legal battles over Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the August 15 election would allow the state to focus on governance rather than political uncertainty. He warned that prolonged litigation could distract elected officials, heighten tensions among citizens, and create fertile ground for violence.
Adegoke explained that when an election is contested at the tribunal, the entire state becomes tense. The uncertainty surrounding the outcome affects not only the governor but also government institutions and ordinary citizens. “When you go to the tribunal to challenge the result of an election, the entire state will be on the edge,” he said. “You will discover that everybody, not only the elected governor or whomsoever, will be so shifty in terms of performance and what have you, because it doesn’t allow such an elected person to concentrate on the business of governance.”
He stressed that citizens who participated in the election would remain anxious while awaiting tribunal decisions. This environment, he noted, provides violent elements with opportunities to exploit political divisions, leading to attacks, killings, and maiming. “The same thing happens to the mass of the people who participated in the election. Everybody will be eager, will be pensive, expecting what will be the outcome of the tribunal,” Adegoke said. “And you discover that violent elements will take that opportunity to attack one another.”
Recalling past election disputes in Osun State, Adegoke pointed out that prolonged litigation had often resulted in violence and destruction of property. He urged political actors to learn from these experiences and choose peaceful resolutions over extended legal battles. “The people that are being killed, the majority of them are poor people. So who did not have any grievance against one another until this political something came up?” he asked.
Adegoke also highlighted the financial burden of election litigation, noting that maintaining tribunals and managing related processes consumes significant public resources. “Rather than even using taxpayers’ money, because for the tribunal to be maintained, for the process to go smoothly and what have you, it costs the government a lot of money,” he stated. He argued that public funds should not be wasted on disputes that could be resolved through dialogue and mutual agreement.
By withdrawing their petitions, political parties are taking a responsible step toward national unity and effective governance. This move sets a positive precedent for future elections in Nigeria, where peace and stability must always come before partisan interests.
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