-
As Party’s Chairman Hints Governor’s Possible Defection
- Safiu Kehinde
The re-election bid of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has suffered a huge blow as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suspended the primary election earlier scheduled to hold on Tuesday.
Though Adeleke had emerged as the PDP’s sole aspirant for the 2026 Osun Gubernatorial election following his screening at the PDP’s National Secretariat in October, the primary election was however still required for the confirmation of his candidacy and hope for re-election.
This was however met with a huge setback as the Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, announced the suspension of the primaries at a Press Conference on Monday.
While reiterating that Adeleke had fully complied with all the requirements stipulated for the PDP Governorship ticket, Bisi said the ongoing national level leadership crisis of the party has destabilised the process which will now see the scheduled primaries suspended.
“To begin with, we wish to reaffirm that His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, Governor of Osun State, has fully complied with all requirements set out in the PDP’s timetable for nomination.
“He 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.
“His Excellency thereafter appeared before the duly constituted Screening Committee of our great party on Thursday, October 30th, 2025.
“He was screened, cleared without reservations, and issued a Certificate of Clearance in accordance with party procedures.
“However, gentlemen of the press, soon after these pre-primary processes were concluded, the internal imbroglio rocking the national leadership of our party escalated.” He said.
The Osun PDP Chairman further disclosed the party’s inabillity to hold the statutory ad-hoc ward and local government congresses, scheduled for November 24th and 29th respectively on account of the suspension and counter-suspension of key national leaders of the party.
“The suspension and counter-suspension of key national officers, officers who are statutorily central to the conduct of congresses, primaries, and the transmission of our candidate’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), created a level of uncertainty that directly impacted the planned schedule.
“This crisis reached a point where the statutory ad-hoc ward and local government congresses, scheduled for November 24th and 29th respectively, could not hold.
“These are the very congresses where delegates to the primaries are elected. As you are all aware, the issues leading to these disruptions are presently before various courts across the country.
“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.
“It is equally important to restate, for the record, that Governor Ademola Adeleke remains the sole aspirant who purchased, submitted, and was duly screened in line with the party’s official timetable.” He said.
Bisi hinted the possible defection of Adeleke from the party as he disclosed that the governor may no longer be interested in the PDP governorship ticket.
“However, because of the internal crisis rocking the national leadership of our party, the information at my disposal is that Governor Ademola Adeleke may not, any longer be interested in seeking the nomination of the PDP for the 2026 Osun Gubernatorial Election, except a resolution recognized by INEC is reached within the INEC timeline.” He added.