In a dramatic turn of events, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State is currently conducting its governorship primary election, just hours after the state's governor, Ademola Adeleke, officially resigned from the party. The exercise, aimed at selecting a candidate for the August 8, 2026 gubernatorial poll, is underway at the Atlantis Multipurpose Hall on Ring Road in Osogbo, the state capital.
Primary Proceeds Despite Leadership Dispute
The decision to proceed with the primary directly contradicts the position of the party's state chairman, Sunday Bisi. On Monday, December 1, Bisi had declared that the primary election would not hold as scheduled. He cited the suspension and counter-suspension of key national officers, whose statutory roles include conducting congresses and transmitting candidate names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the source of confusion.
Bisi had further suggested that Governor Adeleke, who was reportedly the only aspirant to have obtained a nomination form, might withdraw his ambition unless an INEC-recognised resolution to the party's national leadership crisis was reached within the stipulated timeline. Hours after this statement, a resignation letter signed by Adeleke, dated November 4, 2025, surfaced online, with the governor citing the party's internal crisis as his reason for leaving.
National Secretariat Insists on Election
Despite the governor's exit and the state chairman's objections, the factional national leadership of the PDP remained adamant. In a letter dated December 1, 2025, and signed by the National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Shan, the national secretariat maintained that the primary would proceed as originally planned on December 2, 2025.
The letter referenced earlier notices and the successful completion of delegate congresses on November 24 and 29, 2025. It confirmed the venue and time for the primary and announced that an Electoral Committee had been constituted to oversee the process. The secretariat also issued a stern warning to cleared candidates, advising them to behave in accordance with the party's constitution and the interest of law and order, noting that "any act of indiscipline will be severely punished."
On-the-Ground Report from Osogbo
As of Tuesday morning, party leaders, members, and delegates have stormed the Atlantis Multipurpose Hall in Osogbo. Reports indicate that the primary election is currently in progress under a heavy security presence. This development creates a significant rift within the Osun PDP, presenting a scenario where a governorship candidate may be selected by a faction that does not include the sitting governor, who was once considered the party's frontrunner.
The outcome of this primary and its recognition by INEC will be crucial for the PDP's chances in the 2026 election. The party now faces the dual challenge of managing a deep internal schism and presenting a unified front against opponents in the upcoming gubernatorial race.
