Osun 2026: What Adeleke’s exit means for PDP

By Baba Martins, Hameed Oyegbade, Mumini Abdulkareem & Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos

Even though Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke has formally announced his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Daily Trust understands that the party leadership is still engaging him, hoping he may reconsider.

Adeleke’s departure, while anticipated, compounds the ongoing turmoil that the PDP, once Nigeria’s ruling party, has experienced since the 2023 presidential election loss. The national-level crisis, which intensified following its defeat to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has already prompted six elected governors to leave the party: Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori, Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno, Bayelsa’s Duoye Diri, Enugu’s Peter Mbah, Taraba’s Kefas Agbu, and now Osun’s Adeleke.

Adeleke’s exit is particularly significant, as he is the first among these first-time governors to face a re-election battle after defecting. The Osun state governorship election is scheduled for August 2026.

On Monday, news emerged that the Governor had officially left the PDP, the party on whose platform he first became governor.

The resignation was conveyed in a letter submitted on 4 November 2025, citing the ongoing crisis within the PDP’s national leadership as his reason. Adeleke shared the letter on his social media page early on Tuesday, ending weeks of speculation about which platform he would use to contest the 2026 Osun governorship election.

In his statement, Adeleke stressed that the growing leadership instability at the national level had rendered his continued membership untenable. He formally notified the party leadership in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government, of his withdrawal, describing the decision as difficult but necessary to ensure political clarity and effective governance amid ongoing national-level challenges within the party.

While sources previously told Daily Trust that Adeleke had finalised plans to seek the governorship ticket of the Accord Party after unsuccessful attempts to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC), his resignation letter did not specify his next political destination. However, his Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, stated on Tuesday that the governor will formally join a new political party before December 13. According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2026 Osun State governorship election, political parties are required to conclude their primaries between November 24 and December 15.

With Adeleke’s departure, the PDP now has only Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo as its sole governor in the South West, the geopolitical zone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that opposition parties are scheming to unseat in 2027. Stretching the calculation further, Makinde may be regarded as the last PDP governor in the entire south, as Rivers’ Siminalayi Fubara has refrained from identifying with the party since his reinstatement after a six-month suspension following a supremacy dispute with his predecessor, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who remains central to the national party crisis that has fragmented the once-strong opposition party.

Earlier, Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi noted that the national leadership crisis had crippled preparations for the party primary, throwing the process into uncertainty. He added that he was unsure whether the Governor remained interested in contesting the PDP’s gubernatorial ticket.

Despite the gloom, some party leaders remain optimistic that PDP can weather the storm. A top party source told Daily Trust that Adeleke was reluctant to leave the PDP, but allies, including former Senate President Bukola Saraki, reportedly persuaded him to join another party to avoid potential post-election legal challenges.

The source said, “They feel another party might hijack his victory, like what happened in Plateau State with the state and national assembly elections. But he is not happy with what is happening at the National Headquarters. Even the primary that took place today, he and his team felt INEC would not monitor it, though we heard they were present.

“There is still communication between the National Working Committee led by Dr. Tanimu Turaki and the Governor. They are talking, and he might contest on the PDP platform. The winner of the primary can serve as a placeholder if Adeleke returns. He knows the party is on his side and will work with him. Everything will depend on what happens in the next few days.”

PDP responds to Adeleke’s exit

Meanwhile, PDP National Chairman Kabiru Turaki (SAN) told journalists after a National Working Committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge that the party had not received official notification of Adeleke’s resignation.

He said, “We have seen in the media a letter purported to be from him resigning from our party, but we have not officially received it. From the instructions we have given our people in the field, I know that Governor Adeleke’s name is still listed as one of the aspirants vying for the ticket. So, if he decides—either in person or via a representative—not to participate, that will form part of the report we will receive.”

Turaki explained that, as far as party leadership is concerned, “even if what we saw on social media is true, Governor Adeleke, like any Nigerian, has the constitutional right to freedom of association. He is free to move in or out of any political party.”

He emphasised that the party’s strength lies not in its governors or legislators, but in its people. “If you go to states where some governors have left, conduct a survey and you will discover that most of the people did not go with those who defected. That is what we are counting on. Our people are with us intact, and when election time comes, they will prove that the PDP remains strong and complete.”

Adedamola wins PDP governorship ticket

Meanwhile, in Osun, the PDP governorship primary went ahead despite Adeleke’s absence. Chairman of the primary committee, Humphrey Abba, declared Adebayo Adedamola the winner, having scored 919 votes out of 957 cast at the state capital, Osogbo, on Tuesday.

The Secretary of the Committee, Sunday Solarin, said Adeleke and Adedamola were the two aspirants seeking the PDP ticket, adding that Adeleke had already resigned. He noted that votes cast for Adeleke would “eventually amount to waste,” urging delegates to follow instructions during the voting process. Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission and a PDP national committee were present, alongside a heavy security presence, including operatives from the DSS, police, and NSCDC.

Osun Speaker accuses Makinde of interference

However, the primary’s outcome followed protests by Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Adewale Egbedun and several legislators, who accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of attempting to influence PDP structures in Osun.

Speaking at the Assembly complex, Egbedun condemned the presence of political actors from Oyo, describing it as a “drama,” despite prior notice that the congress had been postponed.

“This is a message to Governor Makinde that if he is desperate to become president in 2027, he should use another state as a tool and not Osun. We are PDP members here with 25 House members, a Speaker, five House Representatives, and a senator. A governor from another state will not dictate for us. We will not take that,” he said.

Egbedun stressed that Adeleke remained respected among party members, while lawmakers and party leaders in Osun remained committed to preserving the PDP’s integrity in the state.

PDP leaders insist party remains intact

Speaking on the party’s situation, former PDP Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George accused the federal government of actively enabling the crisis within the opposition party but insisted that PDP remains Nigeria’s only national party. He warned that Nigeria is “dangerously wobbling politically,” alleging that officials entrusted with protecting democratic institutions were undermining them for personal and partisan gain.

George condemned recent disruptions at the PDP National Secretariat, including the November 18 incident allegedly carried out by expelled members with backing from a serving federal minister. He described the actions as “a grave assault on democratic order” and warned that they threaten Nigeria’s multi-party system.

Ambassador Umar Damagum, outgoing national chairman, said PDP remains “the party to beat,” adding that “Every day, we cross one hurdle; they place another, but we continue. We are people of faith who believe God will see us through. God’s justice may be delayed, but it is absolute.”

Dr Eddy Olafeso, former National Vice Chairman (South West), said Adeleke’s defection was not unexpected, but stressed that party leaders were committed to resolving the issues. He said:

“Individual reactions will differ, but as leaders and members, we are committed to seeing this problem through and solving it, so that those coming after us can pursue their ambitions within the framework the party provides. It’s a learning process; we have all fallen short, but we will learn and continue the fight.”

Olafeso added that while challenges remain, the party will ensure that those attempting to undermine it are held accountable. “These kinds of things happen along the line. We take them in stride but remain determined to protect the party and its members.”

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