By Thomas Abidoye
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, has kicked off the 2026 Osun gubernatorial primary election.
It was gathered that the primary election is currently taking place at Adolak Event Centre in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.
Recall that on Monday, the Osun State Chairman of the PDP, Sunday Bisi, announced the suspension of the primary election, citing ongoing internal crises within the party’s national leadership.
He confirmed that Governor Adeleke appeared before the party’s Screening Committee on Thursday, October 30th, 2025, where he was cleared and issued a Certificate of Clearance.
However, Hon. Sunday Bisi disclosed that shortly after these processes, the internal crisis at the national level of the PDP worsened, leading to suspensions of key officers whose roles are critical to the conduct of congresses and primaries.
According to him, “In the light of these developments, it has become inevitable that the PDP governorship primaries can no longer hold as scheduled,”
However, hours later, the PDP National Working Committee loyal to the Oyo State Governor vowed to continue with the primary election.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday, by the factional National Organising Secretary, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan.
The organising secretary stated that the preparations followed earlier communication to INEC and the successful congresses held on November 24 and 29. Shan said the congresses produced the ad-hoc and national delegates required for the exercise.
Shan affirmed that an Electoral Committee has been constituted to supervise the conduct of the primaries.
He added that the committee is expected to ensure compliance with party guidelines and maintain order throughout the process.
Shan warned all cleared aspirants to conduct themselves according to the party’s constitution.
He stressed that any act of indiscipline during the exercise will attract strict sanctions.
Also in the early hours of Tuesday, the resignation letter of Governor Ademola Adeleke who is the sole candidate who obtained nomination and expression of interest form surfaced online.
This is coming barely 12 hours when the Osun State Chairman of PDP, Sunday Bisi said Adeleke will not pick the party re-election ticket over national leadership crisis.
According to the letter, titled: “Resignation of my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’ read, “Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my Membership of the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect.
“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party.”
The letter was addressed to the PDP chairman of his Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde, Ede, Osun State, which was dated 4th November 2025.
