Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its scheduled governorship primary following the escalating leadership crisis rocking the party at the national level.
Gatekeepers News reports that the development has also triggered uncertainty over Governor Ademola Adeleke’s participation in the 2026 governorship race on the party’s platform.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Sunday Bisi, chairman of the PDP in Osun, announced that the primary election slated for December 2 could no longer proceed due to unresolved disputes involving the suspension and counter-suspension of key national officers.
According to Bisi, the affected officers are central to organising congresses and forwarding candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), raising doubts about the legality of any process conducted under the current circumstances.
“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,” Bisi said.
He emphasised that Adeleke remains the only aspirant who has completed all nomination procedures.
“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.
However, Bisi disclosed that the governor might pull out of the race unless the PDP resolves its leadership crisis in a way recognised by INEC and within the commission’s timelines.
“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 said.
The chairman further noted that the turmoil prevented the party from holding its ward congresses on November 24 and the local government congresses scheduled for November 29. These congresses were expected to produce delegates for the primary election. Many of the underlying disputes, he said, are currently before courts across the country.
Bisi reaffirmed Adeleke’s compliance with all party requirements.
“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,” he said.
“His Excellency thereafter appeared before the duly constituted Screening Committee of our great party on Thursday, October 30. He was screened, cleared without reservations, and issued a Certificate of Clearance in accordance with party procedures.”
He added that organising primaries is the exclusive responsibility of the PDP national secretariat once its leadership is stabilised. The Osun chapter, he said, remains committed to keeping the public fully informed as efforts continue to secure a lawful and timely resolution of the crisis.
