Osun 2026: PDP governorship primary underway despite uncertainty

Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and a committee led by Humphrey Abba from the People’s Democratic Party national headquarters have arrived at the venue of the party’s primary in Osogbo, Osun State, where its candidate for the 2026 governorship election will emerge.

There was a heavy security presence at the venue, with armed operatives from the Department of State Security, the police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps stationed at both the entrance and exit.

The chairman of the primary committee announced the commencement of proceedings at exactly 11:07 am, as delegates filed in to check their names before voting.

The exercise, however, has been marked by uncertainty.

Theophilus Shan, a factional National Organising Secretary of the PDP, earlier directed that the primary would go ahead as planned, but Umar Bature, the National Organising Secretary of another faction, said the exercise had been shifted.

PUNCH Online had reported that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke resigned his membership of the PDP.

His resignation letter, addressed to the PDP Ward 2 Chairman, Sagba Abogunde of Ede North Local Government, was dated December 4, 2025. A copy of the letter was obtained by PUNCH Online in the early hours of Tuesday.

Adeleke’s resignation came just a few hours before the party’s governorship primary, slated for December 2, 2025. The letter partly read:

“Due to the current crisis within the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my membership of the PDP 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 governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed the development.

PUNCH Online reports that the leadership of the PDP in Osun State said Adeleke may no longer be interested in seeking the party’s nomination for the 2026 governorship election.

However, the party noted that Adeleke’s decision could change if the crises within the party are resolved in a manner recognised by INEC and within the Commission’s timeline for the Osun poll.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday, Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi said the crises within the party had made it impossible to conduct the governorship primary as earlier scheduled for December 2.

According to the timetable released by INEC detailing activities ahead of the August 8, 2026 Osun Governorship Poll, parties fielding candidates have until December 15 to submit the names of their flagbearers.