The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has endorsed Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for Saturday’s governorship election and directed its members to support his re-election bid on the platform of the Accord Party.

The party’s decision followed a Court of Appeal ruling upholding the nomination of Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola as the PDP governorship candidate and directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to include the PDP logo on the ballot for the August 15 election.

The PDP Interim National Working Committee disclosed this in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.

According to the party, the appellate court held that the PDP had conducted a valid governorship primary monitored by INEC and forwarded the winner’s name to the commission.

“The panel of the Court held that the party having duly conducted primaries which were monitored by INEC, and the name of the winner forwarded to the commission, there was no legal impediment to the participation of the candidate in the elections,” the statement said.

The party said the court also ruled that the access code required for nomination on INEC’s portal was an administrative requirement and could not override the statutory requirement of submitting candidates’ names to the commission.

However, the PDP said the limited time left before Saturday’s election made it difficult for its candidate to mount an effective campaign.

The party therefore resolved to support Adeleke after consultations with key stakeholders, noting that the governor was a former member of the PDP.

“We therefore ask all our members to vote for Governor Adeleke,” the party stated.

The PDP also urged its members to participate actively in the election, protect their votes and ensure that their ballots count.

The party, however, accused INEC of bias, alleging that the commission failed to recognise its candidate despite monitoring the primary that produced him.

It said the development deprived its candidate of sufficient time to campaign ahead of the election.

The PDP called on all stakeholders to reject violence and ensure that the outcome of the election reflects the will of the electorate.

“Elections must be a true reflection of the people’s wish, freely expressed through the ballot. Anything short of that is robbery and must not be allowed to stand,” the party stated.