Adebayo Adedamola on Tuesday secured the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2026 Osun election, emerging winner of the primary conducted in Osogbo.
Adedamola garnered 919 votes out of the 957 ballots cast. Chairman of the primary committee, Humphrey Abba, who declared the results, said, “Void votes 20. We told you earlier that one of the aspirants withdrew. The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and stands elected and returned.”
The exercise took place despite the earlier resignation of Governor Ademola Adeleke from the PDP — a development that had thrown the party’s preparations into fresh uncertainty.
Recall that Adeleke’s name still appeared on the ballot, even though he had withdrawn from the race.
Before voting commenced, the Secretary of the Primary Committee, Sunday Solarin, announced that accreditation ended around 11:35 a.m. and cautioned delegates that any votes cast for Adeleke would not count.
He urged them to adhere strictly to the guidelines for the exercise.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission observed the exercise, alongside a committee led by Abba from the PDP national headquarters.
Security was tight around the venue, with operatives of the Department of State Services, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps manning all entry and exit points.
Proceedings officially began at exactly 11:07 a.m., with delegates checking in before filing out to vote.
Adeleke had earlier confirmed his exit from the PDP through a letter dated November 4, 2025, addressed to the Ward 2 Chairman in Ede North Local Government, Sagba Abogunde.
A copy of the letter obtained by PUNCH Online read in part, “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 expressed gratitude for the opportunities the party had given him to serve as senator and governor. The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, later affirmed the authenticity of the letter.
His resignation followed weeks of confusion within the party, with the Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, confirming on Monday that the internal crisis had disrupted the earlier schedule for the primary.
According to the INEC timetable for the August 8, 2026 Osun governorship poll, political parties have until December 15 to submit the names of their candidates, leaving the PDP a narrow window to finalise its choice.