A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State on Tuesday pressed ahead with a controversial governorship primary in Osogbo, defying internal suspensions, postponement notices, and the shock resignation of Governor Ademola Adeleke from the party.
Despite an announcement by the Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, that the exercise had been postponed due to the escalating leadership crisis at the national level, delegates and officials loyal to a rival faction gathered at the Adolak Events Centre, Osogbo, under heavy security to conduct the primary.
The development came just hours after Governor Adeleke’s resignation letter, dated November 4, 2025, surfaced online, in which he blamed the deepening national leadership tussle for his decision to quit the party. Adeleke was reportedly the only aspirant who purchased the PDP nomination form for the 2026 governorship race.
Bisi had earlier told journalists that conflicting suspensions and counter-suspensions of key national officers responsible for supervising primaries and submitting candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had thrown the process into uncertainty. According to him, the turmoil could also discourage Adeleke from seeking the PDP ticket unless INEC-recognised resolutions were reached promptly.
However, the PDP national secretariat took a different stance. In a letter dated December 1, 2025 and signed by National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Shan, the party reaffirmed that the primaries would proceed as scheduled.
The letter read in part: “Further to the notice of 28th October, 2025 on the gubernatorial primaries and the successful completion of congresses to elect ad-hoc and national delegates in Osun State on the 24th and 29th of November, 2025, the Party hereby reminds stakeholders and the general public that the primaries to elect the gubernatorial candidate will hold on December 2nd, 2025 at Atlantis Multipurpose Hall, Ring Road, Osogbo, 10am.”
It also confirmed the constitution of the Electoral Committee responsible for supervising the exercise, warning all cleared aspirants to adhere strictly to party rules or face disciplinary action.
As of the time of filing this report, the factional primary was underway, with delegates and party officials continuing proceedings expected to culminate in the emergence of a PDP candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election.
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