Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party amid national internal conflict and is expected to seek re-election with a different party. A statement issued late last night by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson for the State Governor, announced that the Governor—who had previously purchased and submitted his nomination form to
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party amid national internal conflict and is expected to seek re-election with a different party.
A statement issued late last night by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson for the State Governor, announced that the Governor—who had previously purchased and submitted his nomination form to contest for a second term under the PDP in the Osun State off-cycle election scheduled for August 2026—has now decided to withdraw from continuing with the party.
Although the information has only recently reached the media, Mr Rasheed stated in his release that the Governor had sent written correspondence to the PDP Chairman for Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde, Ede North Local Government, Osun State, to resign from the party on November 4th 2025.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) since November 4th, 2025.
“The letter was addressed to the PDP Chairman for Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde of
Ede North Local Government, Osun State.
“The letter reads as follows: “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 noted in the letter personally signed by him.” The statement reads.
Speculation has arisen regarding Governor Adeleke potentially leaving the PDP. His proposed intention to join the APC was strongly opposed by party members in Osun State.
Before the public announcement of the Governor’s resignation, the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State expressed worries about how the national crisis was hindering its preparations for the 2026 state election. The party explained that the Makinde-led faction, headed by Kabiru Turaki, was unable to move forward with its planned primary because of escalating leadership issues within the organisation.
Osun PDP Chairman Hon. Sunday Bisi expressed concern that suspensions and counter-suspensions of key national officers have disrupted the state’s congresses and candidate selection process, despite Osun’s support for Turaki chairmanship.
He indicated that, as a result of this development, the party’s ongoing plan to adhere to due process in conducting primary elections for the cleared aspirants, including Governor Adeleke, has been halted, and the party is unable to progress further at this time.
He further stated that, due to the party’s inability to hold its ad-hoc ward congresses on November 24 and the local government congresses scheduled for November 29, it would not be possible for the congresses—intended to elect delegates for the primary elections—to proceed as planned. Additionally, the PDP Osun Chairman emphasised that the responsibility for conducting the primary elections rests with the national body.
INEC Timeline Closing In
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently managing an internal crisis that is impeding its processes, as the deadline established by the Independent National Electoral Commission for party primaries ahead of the Osun State election approaches.
According to the timeline set by the electoral commission, the conduct of party primaries (and resolution of disputes) should only hold between Monday, November 24, 2025, to Monday, December 15, 2025, as political parties are expected to collect the nomination access codes for their candidates starting from the same Monday, December 15, 2025.
The PDP’s inability to resolve its crisis could lead to its being unable to field a candidate for the next elections in the state.
PDP’s Endless Internal Conflict
The PDP has been facing escalating internal divisions and leadership disputes in recent days. More of this crisis is connected to factionalisation and legal battles between the factions loyal to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, who are both grappling for the leadership of the party.
The Seyi Makinde group, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and Taofeek Arapaja—who were recently elected Chairman and National Secretary during the party’s convention in Ibadan—assert their legitimacy as party leaders. Meanwhile, Wike’s faction, headed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, disputes the results of the Ibadan convention and continues to claim leadership of the party, resulting in ongoing conflict between the two groups.
The development led to physical confrontation between the two factions at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja, making police officers seal off the building with barbed-wire barricades, preventing any party activities from continuing there. The implication is reflecting on the primary election, which should have been held in Osun.
Besides ongoing disputes among party leaders, a few legal cases are in progress. For example, courts have issued various orders and counter-orders regarding the recent national convention.
