Osun PDP Defies Crisis, Holds Governorship Primary

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State proceeded with the party’s governorship primary on Tuesday, despite Governor Ademola Adeleke’s recent resignation and an announcement by state chairman Sunday Bisi that the event had been postponed because of a national leadership crisis. The primary began at the Adolak Events Centre in Osogbo under tight security and 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 argued that the governor’s resignation did not alter the election timetable. Governor Adeleke had been the only aspirant to obtain the nomination form, but his resignation letter, dated 4 November 2025, cited the leadership crisis as his reason for leaving the party.

Sunday Bisi, the Osun PDP state chairman, announced the postponement of the primary on Monday, pointing to the suspension and counter‑suspension of key national officers responsible for overseeing primaries and submitting candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Nevertheless, the PDP national secretariat reaffirmed its decision to proceed, issuing a letter on 1 December 2025 through National Organising Secretary Theophilus Shan. The letter confirmed that the Electoral Committee for the primary had been duly constituted, would supervise the exercise, and reminded candidates to act in accordance with the party’s constitution and the law.

As the primary got underway, officials and party members continued with the election, which will determine the PDP’s candidate for the 2026 governorship race. The party has been grappling with a national leadership crisis that has created uncertainty about its future and raised questions about its ability to present a united front in the upcoming election. Despite these challenges, the primary is seen as a crucial step toward selecting a candidate.

The PDP is expected to announce the primary results soon, naming its candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election. That candidate will face opponents from other parties, and the outcome of both the primary and the subsequent election will have significant implications for the PDP and the state of Osun, drawing close attention from political observers and analysts.