A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State on Tuesday went ahead with its governorship primary in Osogbo, hours after Governor Ademola Adeleke announced his resignation from the party.
Party delegates and officials arrived early at the Adolak Events Centre, Osogbo, where the exercise commenced under heavy security presence, despite an earlier declaration by the state chairman, Sunday Bisi, that the primary had been postponed due to the leadership tussle at the national level.
A faction of the PDP’s national hierarchy had maintained that the primary must proceed, insisting that the governor’s exit from the party did not affect the approved timetable.
Adeleke was said to be the only aspirant who purchased the party’s nomination form before his departure.
Bisi, while addressing journalists on Monday, said the suspension and counter-suspension of key national officers responsible for coordinating primaries and transmitting candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission had thrown the party into uncertainty.
He added that the crisis might make Adeleke reconsider seeking the PDP ticket for the 2026 governorship election unless the party resolved its issues in line with INEC-recognised procedures.
Later that evening, a letter dated November 4, 2025 and signed by Adeleke surfaced online, confirming his resignation from the PDP and attributing it to the unending national leadership crisis.
Despite the governor’s exit, the PDP national secretariat restated its position that the primary must hold.
The reaffirmation came through a letter issued by the National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Shan, dated December 1, 2025.
The letter stated, “Sequel to the earlier notice of 28th October, 2025 to the gubernatorial primaries and the successful completion of congresses to elect ad hoc delegates and National delegates in Osun State on the 24th and 29th of November, 2025, the Party hereby reminds strategic 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, Osun State, 10am.”
It added that the Electoral Committee for the exercise had been duly constituted.
The statement cautioned: “The candidates cleared for the primaries are advised to behave in accordance with the provisions of our party’s constitution and in the interest of law and order, as any act of indiscipline will be severely punished.”
As of the time of filing this report, delegates and officials were still proceeding with the exercise expected to produce the PDP’s flagbearer for the 2026 Osun governorship election.