The Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary in Osun State went ahead in Osogbo on Tuesday, even as uncertainty spread across the venue following the resignation of Governor Ademola Adeleke from the party hours earlier.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission arrived at the voting arena alongside a committee from the PDP national headquarters led by Humphrey Abba. Security operatives from the Department of State Services, the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps mounted tight surveillance at the entrance and exit points as delegates filed in to verify their names.
Proceedings began at exactly 11.07 am after the chairman of the primary committee declared the exercise open. However, confusion trailed the event as two factions at the national level issued conflicting directives on whether the primary should continue.
Theophilus Shan, who belongs to one of the factions and identifies as the National Organising Secretary, insisted the process would hold as planned. “The primary stands and will be conducted today,” he had earlier stated. But Umar Bature, who heads another faction as National Organising Secretary, maintained that the exercise had been shifted.
The tension grew stronger after it emerged that Adeleke had dumped the party. A letter addressed to the PDP Ward 2 Chairman, Sagba Abogunde of Ede North, dated December 4, 2025, conveyed his decision. In the letter, the governor wrote, “Due to the current crisis within the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my membership of the PDP with immediate effect.” He also added, “I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party.”
His spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed the development, which has now thrown the governorship race in the party into fresh speculation. Party leaders in the state indicated that Adeleke may no longer be seeking the nomination for the 2026 contest unless the internal crises are resolved within the timeframe given by INEC.
Speaking with journalists in Osogbo on Monday, Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, said the crises had affected the primary schedule. He explained, “We could not conduct the primary as earlier planned because of the issues at the national level.”
According to the INEC timetable for the August 8, 2026 Osun Governorship Election, political parties have until December 15 to submit the names of their candidates, leaving the PDP with limited time to settle its internal rift.
