Osun PDP halts Guber Primary, cites leadership meltdown at national level

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has once again been forced to dance to the rhythm of its national leadership crisis, as the party announced the postponement of its 2026 governorship primary earlier scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

In a statement released in Osogbo, the state chairman, Sunday Bisi, explained that Governor Ademola Adeleke had already fulfilled every requirement contained in the official timetable issued by the PDP National Secretariat.

According to him, the Governor purchased and submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms between October 13 and 25, 2025, before appearing before the Screening Committee on October 30, where he was duly cleared and issued a Certificate of Clearance.

However, what initially appeared to be a smooth internal process soon became complicated by a fresh wave of hostilities within the national hierarchy of the PDP.

Bisi noted that the tension in Abuja escalated shortly after the screening exercise, culminating in the suspension of key national officers mandated to supervise congresses and primaries.

The unfolding leadership battle, now the subject of multiple court cases scattered across the country, effectively crippled the ward and local government congresses scheduled for November 24 and 29.

Those congresses were expected to produce the delegates who would vote in the governorship primary.

“In light of these developments, it has become inevitable that the Osun PDP governorship primary can no longer hold as scheduled,” Bisi declared.

As it stands, Governor Adeleke remains the sole aspirant who has purchased, submitted, and undergone screening under the official timetable.

Yet the prolonged deadlock at the national level has sparked anxiety within Osun’s political circles, with growing fears that the Governor may be compelled to withdraw from the race if the crisis is not resolved in a manner legally recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the electoral window closes.

The state chapter emphasised that the legal authority to conduct primaries rests solely with the National Secretariat. Nonetheless, Bisi said the Osun leadership felt duty-bound to keep party members and the general public updated, especially in view of the escalating uncertainty.

He assured that efforts were underway to secure a lawful, timely resolution, stressing the party’s commitment to due process, internal democracy, and strict compliance with electoral guidelines.

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