The internal crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has deepened, as the party’s sole governorship aspirant, Oloye Saheed Oladele, has instituted legal proceedings against the party leadership and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the nomination of its candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

Oladele, through his counsel, Barrister Akinlolu Oyebamiji of AOC Chambers, is challenging the submission of the name of Michael Okunlade to INEC as the SDP’s consensus governorship candidate in Oyo State.

Speaking outside the courtroom on Friday, Oyebamiji alleged that the nomination and substitution process failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

He argued that Okunlade, who is also the state chairman of the party, failed to obtain the required expression-of-interest and nomination forms before the deadline stipulated by INEC.

“We are before the court to challenge the decision of the Social Democratic Party to present Mr Michael Okunlade as a consensus candidate,” Oyebamiji said.

The lawyer further contended that Oladele did not execute any withdrawal or consent document authorising the party to replace him with another candidate.

The plaintiff also challenged subsequent moves by the state party executives to introduce other contenders, including an unveiling ceremony held on August 17.

Among the reliefs sought by Oladele is a declaration that Okunlade’s nomination as the SDP’s consensus governorship candidate in Oyo State is invalid.

He is also asking the court to restrain Okunlade from presenting himself as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election and prevent INEC and the SDP’s national leadership from recognising him as the validly nominated candidate.

Oladele is further asking the court to direct the SDP and INEC to recognise him as the party’s governorship candidate and upload his name to the commission’s candidate portal.

The court is expected to fix a date for the hearing of the plaintiff’s preliminary applications.