Makinde Mobilises Top Legal Team for PDP’s Defensive Stand at Ibadan North Bye-Election Tribunal
In a significant display of high-stakes legal strategy, , governor of , has retained a formidable legal team — led by and a roster of 13 additional lawyers — to represent the (PDP) and its candidate, , at the election petition tribunal arising from the August 16, 2025 bye-election in the Ibadan North federal constituency.
Legal Firepower Deployed
Governor Makinde’s decision to engage a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) alongside thirteen other attorneys underscores the gravity of the petition filed by the (SDP). The SDP’s challenge, with suit number EPT/OY/HR/01/2025, disputes Hon. Folajimi’s declaration as the winner of the bye-election on grounds of alleged non-compliance with the .
Representing the PDP, Ogunrinde’s team promptly filed a preliminary objection, asserting that the SDP petition is “incompetent” and must be dismissed with substantial costs, labelling it “baseless, gold-digging, frivolous, vexatious, petty and lacks merit.”
What’s at Stake
The bye-election in the Ibadan North federal constituency is more than just a local contest; it carries broader implications for party dominance and the perceived potency of political machines in Oyo State. The PDP regards the win as a reaffirmation of Governor Makinde’s political capital. For the SDP, this is a pivotal opportunity to disrupt the established two-party dynamic and challenge the narratives of electoral invincibility.
Timeline & Tribunal Proceedings
The petition was filed by the SDP before the election tribunal in Ibadan. On October 15, 2025, the tribunal resumed hearing, where it directed all counsel to cooperate and then adjourned the case until March 16, 2025.
Legal Strategy & Political Signals
Governor Makinde’s legal move sends several strategic signals:
Strength in Numbers & Expertise: Retaining a SAN and a large legal team suggests that the PDP is prepared for a thorough and robust defence. It effectively raises the stakes for the petitioners and signals confidence in their electoral victory.
Message to Opposition: By mounting such a formidable defence, the PDP aims to deter frivolous or weak challenges in the future — setting a precedent that their victories will be staunchly protected in court.
Political Branding: For Makinde and his camp, the victory — and subsequent defence of it — reinforces their narrative of political strength, institutional control, and electoral legitimacy.
Judicial Legitimacy: The engagement of high-profile legal representation also serves to frame the dispute as a serious legal matter rather than just a partisan squabble, which adds weight to the PDP’s position in the tribunal and the eyes of the public.
Broader Implications for Oyo State Politics
The PDP’s prompt legal mobilisation may help safeguard this seat against flip-flopping or loss in subsequent appeals or by-elections. A favourable Tribunal outcome could thus bolster the party’s momentum ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State — where internal contests, regional rotations and party alliances will be more keenly contested.
Conversely, if the SDP eventually triumphs or gains favourable outcomes, it could open the door to a recalibration of voter loyalties and possibly signal vulnerabilities in the PDP ground-game in Ibadan and beyond.
What to Watch
Tribunal Ruling: The Tribunal’s decision on the preliminary objection will be pivotal. If the SDP petition is struck out at this stage, the PDP stronghold is effectively reinforced. If not, the case may proceed to full hearing with new evidence.
Campaign Reflexes: A lengthy legal battle stretches into 2026 and beyond, potentially affecting the operations of the sitting representative and the governing party’s focus.
Media and Public Perception: The public narrative around whether the case is seen as political theatre or legitimate legal scrutiny will influence the reputations of both parties.
Election Reform Impact: The case hinges on alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 — meaning it could serve as a precedent for how future petitions in Nigeria are framed and adjudicated.
Final Insight
Governor Seyi Makinde’s mobilization of top-tier legal talent to defend the PDP and its candidate, Sunday Oyekunle Folajimi, signals that the Ibadan North bye-election is being treated not simply as an isolated electoral contest but as a critical front in the larger battle for political supremacy in Oyo State. As the tribunal process unfolds, the outcome will carry implications for the integrity of the electoral result, the durability of party power structures, and the precedent for how Nigerian electoral disputes are contested in court.
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