According to the statement, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to include the PDP logo on the ballot for the August 15 election.

The party said the court upheld the nomination after ruling that the PDP had conducted its governorship primary, which was 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 PDP said the court also ruled that the access code required for nomination on INEC’s portal was an administrative requirement which could not override the statutory requirement of submitting candidates’ names to the commission.

However, the party said it decided to support Adeleke of the Accord Party because of the limited time available for its candidate to campaign before Saturday’s election.

“To this end, faced with the unimaginable difficulty that this situation puts on us, the Interim National Working Committee has chosen not to throw its hands up in defeat,” the statement said.

The PDP said the decision followed consultations with key stakeholders and consideration that Adeleke was a former member of the party.

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

The party also urged its members to participate in the election, defend their votes and ensure that their votes count.

The PDP, however, accused INEC of bias and alleged that the commission had failed to recognise its candidate despite monitoring the primary that produced him.

The party said the situation had left its candidate without enough time to campaign for the election.

The PDP further called on Nigerians to reject violence and ensure that the outcome of the election reflects the wishes of voters.

“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.

The party described the factional leader as a political hireling and hustler seeking stomach infrastructure and has no political structure that will favour his preferred candidate in the election.

“That Imumolen attended the APC rally in Osogbo where he backed its candidate is a glaring testament that he is not a member of Accord and does not represent the party in any capacity,” a statement signed by Maxwell Mgbudem, the party’s National Chairman said.

“The purported appellation, “factional chairman” of Accord is not only mischievous, it is a delusion of the grandeur that exists in his fertile imagination as the party has no faction.

“Osun State is an Accord stronghold, the people are in one accord with Governor Ademola Adeleke and will overwhelmingly vote for the party on Saturday, August 15.

“It is obvious that Accord will secure a landslide victory in this election that will further consolidate the party in the state and improve the delivery of democracy dividends to the people.

“It is the fear of its worst electoral defeat that APC resorted to violence, harassment, intimidation and the use of federal Institutions particularly, the police and the EFCC to suppress the Government and people of Osun State including Accord members hoping to compromise the election in favour of the APC.

“The good people of Osun remain resolute, firm and steadfast in their support for Accord and their governor.”

The party urged INEC to be neutral and conduct a credible election, and also urged security agencies to be impartial and professional in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.

Accord called on the international community particularly, the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Africa Union, ECOWAS, United States of America and United Kingdom to strictly monitor the election and sanction anyone found wanting.

The party said it is set and ready for the governorship election and expressed confidence to win, banking on Governor Adeleke’s achievements and transformational leadership in the state.