Adedamola Wins PDP Ticket as Adeleke Steps Aside

A new turn in Osun politics unfolded on Tuesday when Adebayo Adedamola was declared the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2026 election. The primary election took place in Osogbo, where Adedamola received 919 votes out of the 957 ballots counted.

The chairman of the primary committee, Humphrey Abba, announced the result and confirmed that one aspirant had earlier withdrawn from the race. Delegates had gathered at the venue under strict supervision, with officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission, party representatives from Abuja, and heavy security from the DSS, police, and civil defence officers ensuring order.

Before the voting began, the committee secretary, Sunday Solarin, confirmed that only two aspirants were listed on the ballot—Governor Ademola Adeleke and Adebayo Adedamola. He told delegates that Adeleke was no longer in the PDP and that any vote cast for him would not count. His name remained on the ballot because the party had finalised the documents before his resignation was processed.

The primary began after accreditation of delegates ended around 11:35 a.m. Delegates checked their names one after another before voting started.

Adeleke’s decision to leave the PDP had surfaced earlier. His resignation letter, dated November 4 and addressed to his ward chairman in Ede North, explained that he was leaving due to ongoing troubles within the party’s national leadership. His spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, later confirmed the move.

Party leaders in Osun had previously said Adeleke might not be willing to contest under the PDP again because of the unresolved crisis. They suggested his decision could change only if the issues were resolved in time and accepted by INEC before the nomination deadline.

The PDP chairman in Osun, Sunday Bisi, told reporters on Monday that the internal problems had stopped the party from holding the governorship primary as initially planned for December 2. According to the timetable released by INEC for the August 8, 2026 governorship election, political parties must submit the names of their candidates by December 15.

With Adeleke out and Adedamola now holding the ticket, the PDP’s internal troubles have reshaped the path to the 2026 election, leaving the party to move forward with a new flagbearer.