Osogbo, December 2, 2025 – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State is bracing for a high-stakes governorship primary election today, despite mounting internal turmoil that has pitted the party’s national leadership against its state chapter. Scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. at the Atlantis Multipurpose Hall on Ring Road in Osogbo, the exercise aims to select the party’s flagbearer for the 2026 gubernatorial race. However, conflicting signals from party factions have cast a shadow over the event, with the state leadership declaring it unfeasible and hinting at Governor Ademola Adeleke’s potential exit from the party.
In a strongly worded statement issued late Monday by National Organising Secretary Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by acting Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, reaffirmed the primaries’ go-ahead. The notice cited the successful completion of ward and local government congresses on November 24 and 29, 2025, which elected ad-hoc and national delegates, as justification for proceeding.051054 “Sequel to the earlier notice of 28th October, 2025 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of our Party’s gubernatorial primaries… the Party hereby reminds strategic stakeholders and the general public that the primaries to elect the gubernatorial candidate will hold as follows: Date: 2nd December, 2025; Venue: Atlantis Multipurpose Hall, Ring Road, Osogbo, Osun State; Time: 10:00 a.m.,” Shan stated.
This comes hours after Osun PDP Chairman Hon. Sunday Bisi announced the postponement of the primaries in a press briefing in Osogbo, attributing the decision to an escalating national leadership crisis that has disrupted key pre-primary processes. Bisi emphasized that the failure to hold delegate congresses—due to suspensions and counter-suspensions of national officers responsible for oversight—rendered the event untenable. “In the light of the foregoing, it has become inevitable, indeed unavoidable, that the PDP governorship primaries earlier slated for Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, can no longer hold as scheduled,” he declared.
The crisis traces back to a protracted dispute over the PDP’s national secretary position, involving Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye, which has spawned multiple court cases nationwide since. A Court of Appeal ruling in December 2024 affirmed Udeh-Okoye, but ongoing legal battles have frozen party activities, including the Osun congresses. Bisi noted that these issues directly impacted the primaries, as no delegates were elected, leaving the process in limbo.
Adding fuel to the fire, Bisi revealed that Governor Adeleke—the incumbent and sole aspirant to have fully complied with nomination requirements—may withdraw his candidacy unless the crisis is resolved in a manner recognized by INEC within electoral timelines. Adeleke purchased and submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms between October 13 and 25, 2025, and was cleared by the screening committee on October 30, receiving a Certificate of Clearance. No other aspirants met the October 25 submission deadline, making Adeleke the default frontrunner. Yet, amid the chaos, social media buzz and reports suggest Adeleke could defect, with some unverified claims of him quitting PDP entirely circulating online.
The state chairman urged aspirants and delegates to maintain order if any proceedings occur, warning against indiscipline. “We assure you that the leadership of the party, both at the state and national levels, is working round the clock to ensure a lawful, workable, and timely resolution,” Bisi added. Early morning reports indicate limited turnout at the venue, with one potential late entrant—an ally of Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, Adebayo Adedamola (Fryo)—purportedly joining the race, though this remains unconfirmed by official channels.
Political analysts view Osun as a pivotal battleground for 2026, given its history of tight contests—Adeleke’s 2022 victory over APC’s Gboyega Oyetola by a slim margin underscored the state’s volatility. The PDP’s internal fractures could hand an advantage to rivals, particularly the APC, which is yet to announce its primary schedule. As delegates trickle in, all eyes are on whether the Turaki-led NWC can salvage the process or if court interventions will further delay Osun’s path to selecting a challenger to the status quo.
PDP Osun Governorship Primaries Set to Kick Off Amid Factional Clash: Adeleke’s Ticket in Jeopardy as National Body Defies State Chapter’s Boycott Call
