A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State proceeded with the party’s governorship primary on Tuesday, despite the recent resignation of Governor Ademola Adeleke and an announcement by the state chairman, Sunday Bisi, that the event had been postponed due to a national leadership crisis. The primary, which commenced at the Adolak Events Centre in Osogbo under tight security, is expected to produce the PDP’s candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election.
The decision to hold the primary was made by a faction of the party’s national leadership, which maintained that the governor’s resignation did not alter the timetable for the election. Governor Adeleke had been the only aspirant to obtain the nomination form, but his resignation letter, dated November 4, 2025, cited the leadership crisis as his reason for leaving the party.
Sunday Bisi, the Osun PDP state chairman, had announced the postponement of the primary on Monday, citing the suspension and counter-suspension of key national officers responsible for overseeing primaries and submitting candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, the PDP national secretariat reaffirmed its decision to hold the primary through a letter issued by the National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Shan, on December 1, 2025.
The letter stated that the Electoral Committee for the primary had been duly constituted and would supervise the exercise, and reminded candidates to behave in accordance with the party’s constitution and the law. As the primary got underway, officials and members of the PDP were proceeding with the election, which is expected to determine the party’s candidate for the 2026 governorship election.
The PDP has been grappling with a leadership crisis at the national level, which has created uncertainty about the party’s future. The crisis has also raised questions about the party’s ability to present a united front in the upcoming election. Despite these challenges, the party is pushing forward with the primary, which is seen as a crucial step in selecting a candidate for the governorship election.
As the primary continues, the PDP is expected to announce the results, which will determine the party’s candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election. The election is scheduled to take place in 2026, and the party’s candidate will face off against candidates from other parties in the state. The outcome of the primary and the subsequent election will have significant implications for the PDP and the state of Osun, and will be closely watched by political observers and analysts.