The governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has formally quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pointing to ongoing leadership turmoil within the party at the national level as the reason for his exit.
The governor, who was elected on the PDP ticket, submitted his resignation letter on November 4, 2025, at Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, although the announcement only became public on Monday night.
In a statement shared on his Instagram page, Adeleke said, “Due to the ongoing crisis within the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (#OfficialPDPNig) at the national level, I officially conveyed my resignation letter as a member to the party leadership in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government on November 4, 2025.
“I thank the party and its many members and supporters for the opportunities they have provided me, first as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and now as Governor of Osun State.”
Adeleke’s resignation comes amid escalating factional battles within the PDP, which have disrupted party operations at both the national and state levels. Earlier reports indicated that the PDP state chapter had been concerned about the governor’s interest in contesting the 2026 governorship election.
The party had expressed hope that a resolution recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could persuade him to continue with the PDP.
The Osun State PDP leadership, however, clarified that the governor had fully complied with all pre-primary requirements, including purchasing and submitting the expression of interest and nomination forms within the stipulated window of October 13–25, 2025. Adeleke was screened and cleared by the party’s screening committee on October 30, with a Certificate of Clearance issued in accordance with party procedures.
State’s PDP shairman, Sunday Bisi, said that the internal crises, including the suspension and counter-suspension of key national officers, made it impossible to conduct the party’s governorship primary originally slated for December 2.
“The statutory ad-hoc ward and local government congresses, scheduled for November 24 and 29 respectively, could not hold due to disputes currently before various courts,” Bisi explained.
“In light of the foregoing, the PDP governorship primaries can no longer hold as scheduled. Because of the internal crisis rocking the national leadership, Governor Adeleke may no longer be interested in seeking the nomination of the PDP for the 2026 Osun Gubernatorial Election, unless a resolution recognised by INEC is reached within the commission’s timeline,” he added.
The fallout from Adeleke’s resignation has sparked confusion around the state’s 2026 governorship race. While the state chapter postponed the primary, the PDP National Working Committee insists it should proceed, even though Adeleke remains the only aspirant who bought the nomination form.
The crisis reflects the deepening fractures within the party and could significantly weaken its ability to mount a strong challenge in upcoming elections.
Speculation is growing that Adeleke may now seek a second term under the platform of the Accord Party, with several aides reportedly already infiltrating the party at the state level. An earlier attempt to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly failed after party leaders rejected his move.
Adeleke’s potential defection follows a broader trend of high-profile departures from the PDP, including governors from Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Enugu states, all citing similar frustrations over leadership disputes and dwindling cohesion within the opposition party.
The development has also drawn reactions from the governor’s famous nephew, Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.
Responding to the resignation on social media, the singer posted “Jeje…”, widely interpreted as a message of calm and strategic patience amid the unfolding political drama.
