The media office of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Chief Saheed Oladele, has cautioned former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, against approaching the party if he intends to contest in a manner it claims is contrary to the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act.

In a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, the media office reacted to reports of an alleged move by Chief Adelabu to join the SDP and secure the party’s gubernatorial ticket after reportedly losing the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The statement maintained that the SDP in Oyo State already has a gubernatorial candidate in the person of Chief Saheed Oladele and urged Adelabu to desist from what it described as a futile pursuit.

Oladele’s media office also commended the SDP leadership under its National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, and the Oyo State Chairman, Idowu Owokoya, for what it described as their progressive leadership, commitment to youth participation in politics, and resistance to financial inducements in support of what it termed illegal and unconstitutional political actions.

According to the statement, Saheed Oladele was the sole aspirant who obtained the SDP gubernatorial nomination forms before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline of May 30, 2026.

It added that he was affirmed as the party’s sole consensus candidate for the Oyo State governorship election on May 26, 2026, following a release issued by the state chapter of the SDP on the same date.

The media office argued that Adelabu’s alleged move to the SDP would contravene the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act, claiming that candidates who have participated in the primary elections of one party are not permitted to move to another party to contest the same election.

It recalled that after losing the APC gubernatorial primary in 2023, Adelabu defected to the Accord Party and subsequently polled 38,000 votes, representing about four per cent of the total votes cast in the Oyo State governorship election.

The statement warned the former minister against relying on what it described as misleading assurances from political associates, claiming that such a move could result in another electoral defeat.

“Hijacking the party’s ticket through the back door should not be his preoccupation at this time. We urge the former Power Minister to wake up from his slumber and realise that there is no placeholder in Oyo SDP; rather, there is an established candidate in Chief Saheed Oladele,” the statement said. (Nigerian Tribune)