The Osun State Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the House of Representatives has warned Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to “stay away from Osun affairs.”
The caucus rejected what it described as illegal governorship primaries that, on Tuesday, produced Adebayo Adedamola as PDP’s governorship candidate for 2026.
In a statement, signed by six members of the caucus on Wednesday, the lawmakers called on Makinde to desist from actions “capable of threatening the political stability of Osun State.”
Signed by Bamidele Salam, Mudashiru Alani, Akanni Ademola, Adewale Adebayo, Adetunji Olusoji and Oladebo Omoleye, the statement condemned the purported primaries as being orchestrated “with thugs and political jobbers” allegedly imported from Ibadan, Oyo State. According to the caucus, this conduct portrays Makinde as “a treacherous character whose desperation for regional political influence has pushed him into untoward conduct.”
They said, “It is laughable that the Oyo State governor does not understand, or chooses to ignore, the fact that the PDP has laid down procedures for the conduct of primaries, which include elections of ward ad-hoc delegates and national delegates, without which no valid primaries can be conducted.
“Unequivocally reject the fraudulent conduct of a purported primary,” warning that anyone parading themselves as the PDP’s candidate would be “tantamount to a criminal impersonation and an attempt to provoke the peaceful and law-abiding leaders and members of the PDP in Osun state.”
They also chided Makinde for exporting “impunity, recklessness and sham to Osun State,” even though Osun already has “a decent sitting governor who carries everyone along in major decision-making.”
The lawmakers pledged to uphold the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and counselled that anyone interested in contesting the 2026 Osun governorship election must “play by the rules.”
They further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to disregard the purported primary results and to align with the PDP constitution and guidelines.
The root of the present mess stems from a deep internal leadership crisis at the national level of the PDP. Factions led by different power blocs — including a wing associated with Governor Seyi Makinde (notably the faction led by Kabiru Turaki) are at odds with rival factions loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike. This struggle has disrupted the normal functioning of the party’s national organs.
As a result, key national officers responsible for organising congresses and primaries and transmitting candidate names to INEC have been suspended or counter-suspended. That institutional paralysis has made it impossible for many state chapters (including Osun) to conduct legitimate primaries.
On November 4, 2025, Governor Adeleke formally resigned from the PDP, blaming the decision on the ongoing national leadership crisis.
NAN