The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says Governor Ademola Adeleke may no longer be interested in contesting for the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the 2026 election — a development arising from the deepening crisis engulfing the PDP at the national level.
Speaking with journalists in Osogbo on Monday, the State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Sunday Bisi, revealed that although Governor Adeleke had fulfilled every requirement stipulated in the party’s nomination timetable, the worsening internal turmoil has made it impossible to conduct the PDP governorship primary earlier scheduled for December 2, 2025.
Adeleke Fully Complied With PDP Nomination Rules
Bisi emphasized that Governor Adeleke had demonstrated total commitment to the PDP process. According to him, the governor “purchased and submitted the expression of interest and nomination forms within the stipulated window of October 13th to 25th, 2025, being the deadline for submission.”
He added that Adeleke also appeared before the party’s duly constituted screening committee on October 30, where he was screened, cleared, and subsequently issued a Certificate of Clearance in line with established PDP procedures.
Crisis in PDP National Leadership Disrupts Process
However, Bisi noted that the smooth process was derailed immediately after the pre-primary procedures were completed.
He explained that “the internal imbroglio rocking the national leadership of our party escalated,” pointing to the suspension and counter-suspension of key national officers—individuals who play indispensable statutory roles in conducting congresses, supervising primaries, and transmitting candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The resulting uncertainty, he said, crippled the party’s schedule.
According to Bisi, the crisis became so severe that the ward and local government congresses slated for November 24th and 29th, respectively — processes essential for electing delegates to the governorship primary — failed to hold.
“These are the very congresses where delegates to the primaries are elected,” he stressed, noting that the legal battles over the leadership tussle are currently scattered across courts nationwide.
PDP Primary Cancelled, Adeleke May Withdraw
Given these complications, Bisi announced that it had become “inevitable, indeed unavoidable,” that the Osun PDP governorship primary scheduled for December 2 would no longer hold.
He then dropped the biggest revelation:
“Because of the internal crisis rocking the national leadership of our party, the information at my disposal is that Governor Ademola Adeleke may no longer be interested in seeking the nomination of the PDP for the 2026 Osun Gubernatorial Election, except a resolution recognised by INEC is reached within the INEC timeline.”
PDP Polarised, Clock Ticking
The crisis at the PDP national headquarters has effectively polarised the party into rival factions, each laying claim to legitimacy. This fractured structure threatens the party’s ability to conduct lawful primaries and submit valid candidates.
According to INEC’s published timetable for the August 8, 2026 Osun governorship election, political parties only have until December 15 to submit names of their candidates.
If the PDP fails to resolve its internal crisis — and have that resolution formally acknowledged by INEC — the party risks losing the window to field Adeleke or any other candidate.
What Comes Next?
With the clock rapidly winding down and the party still trapped in a national leadership quagmire, both Governor Adeleke and the PDP face urgent decisions.
Unless the factions reconcile and produce an INEC-recognised leadership structure within days, the governor may be forced out of the race altogether — or be compelled to explore alternatives beyond the PDP.
For now, the governor’s political future hangs in the balance, tied to a party struggling to steady itself before a critical electoral deadline.
