The internal crisis challenging the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, located in South West Nigeria, has taken a new dimension as state party leaders disclosed that Governor Ademola Adeleke may no longer be interested in seeking the party’s nomination for the 2026 governorship election. This development emerges amid an escalating national leadership conflict within the opposition party, which continues to affect political activities across the country. Okay News reports.
Speaking to journalists in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Monday, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Mr. Sunday Bisi, explained that the internal turmoil crippling the party has made it impossible to hold the scheduled governorship primary originally fixed for December 2, 2025.
Bisi stressed that Governor Adeleke had strictly fulfilled all procedural obligations listed in the official nomination timetable. According to him, the governor “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 added that Adeleke appeared for screening on October 30 before a duly constituted committee and was cleared without objections, with a Certificate of Clearance issued in line with the party’s guidelines.
However, Bisi noted that the situation changed dramatically after the pre-primary activities were concluded. The conflict within the national leadership of the party intensified with the “suspension and counter-suspension of key national officers,” individuals who play essential roles in supervising congresses, conducting primaries, and submitting candidate names to the Independent National Electoral Commission, the agency responsible for regulating elections in Nigeria.
According to him, this leadership conflict created operational uncertainty and directly disrupted crucial activities. Bisi explained that the statutory ad-hoc ward congresses and local government congresses, slated for November 24 and November 29 respectively, could not be conducted. These congresses are responsible for electing delegates who vote during the governorship primary election. He noted that many of the issues leading to the disruptions were already before courts in various parts of the country.
“In the light of the foregoing, it has become inevitable, indeed unavoidable, that the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primaries earlier slated for Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, can no longer hold as scheduled,” Bisi stated.
He further revealed that the instability within the national leadership structure has reached a point where Governor Ademola Adeleke is reconsidering his participation in the 2026 governorship race. Bisi said, “However, because of the internal crisis rocking the national leadership of our party, the information at my disposal is that Governor Ademola Adeleke may no longer be interested in seeking the nomination of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2026 Osun Gubernatorial Election, except a resolution recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission is reached within the Independent National Electoral Commission timeline.”
Observers note that the national crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party has resulted in deep factionalisation across several states, affecting preparations for upcoming elections. According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the August 8, 2026 Osun governorship poll, political parties have until December 15, 2025 to submit the list of their candidates. With this deadline approaching, the current uncertainty places the party’s participation at significant risk unless urgent reconciliation is achieved.
