Adebayo Adedamola has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State election, following a primary held on Tuesday in Osogbo, the state capital.
Adedamola secured a commanding victory, polling 919 out of 957 votes cast. Humphrey Abba, chairman of the primary, officially announced the result, noting that 20 votes were void. “One aspirant had withdrawn.
The candidate that received the remaining valid votes is Adebayo Adedamola, who is hereby declared elected and returned,” Abba said.
Despite his earlier resignation from the PDP, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s name appeared on the ballot. Sunday Solarin, Secretary of the primary committee, explained that votes cast for Adeleke would ultimately be considered void and urged delegates to follow instructions during the process.
The primary was closely monitored by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a committee from the PDP national headquarters, led by Humphrey Abba. Security was tight, with officers from the Department of State Security, Nigeria Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps stationed at entry and exit points. Voting commenced promptly at 11:07 a.m., following the accreditation of delegates around 11:35 a.m.
Governor Adeleke had formally resigned from the PDP on November 4, 2025, citing crises within the party’s national leadership. In his resignation letter to PDP Ward 2 Chairman Sagba Abogunde of Ede North Local Government, Adeleke stated:
“Due to the current crisis within the national leadership of the PDP, I hereby resign my membership of the party with immediate effect. I thank the PDP for the opportunities given to me for my elections as Senator (Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State.”
His spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed the resignation. Earlier reports indicated that Adeleke might have reconsidered seeking the PDP nomination if the party resolves its internal crises and gains INEC recognition within the stipulated timeline for the Osun governorship election.
Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, noted that the ongoing internal conflicts had delayed the governorship primary originally scheduled for December 2.
According to INEC’s timetable for the August 8, 2026, Osun governorship poll, political parties have until December 15, 2025, to submit the names of their flagbearers.
