There is confusion over the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries for Osun, where Governor Ademola Adeleke is the only candidate.
The confusion arose on Monday over conflicting directives issued by the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Osun State chapter of the party on the status of the primaries set for Tuesday, December 2.
While the Tanimu Turaki-led NWC reaffirmed that the primaries would be held as scheduled, the Osun chapter responded that they had been postponed due to the internal leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.
The Secretary of National Organization of the Turaki camp, Honorable Theophilus Dakas Shan, in a statement in Abuja, called on party members to turn out on Tuesday to elect their gubernatorial candidate.
The party said: “Following on from the earlier notice of October 28, 2025 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of our Party’s gubernatorial primaries, and the successful completion of the congresses to elect ad hoc delegates and national delegates in Osun State on November 24 and 29, 2025, the Party reminds strategic stakeholders and the general public that the primaries to elect the gubernatorial candidate will be held carried out in the following way.
The camp named the Atlantis MultiPurpose Hall, Ring Road, Osogbo, as the venue for the primaries which will begin at 10am
He added: “Furthermore, the Primary Election Committee has been constituted and will monitor the conduct of the primaries accordingly.
“Candidates approved for the primaries are advised to behave in accordance with the provisions of our party’s statutes and in the interest of public order, as any act of indiscipline will be severely punished.”
However, the Osun state chapter of the PDP thought otherwise. He said there would be no primaries, according to a statement attributed to the chapter president, Sunday Bisi, and issued in Osogbo.
The Osun chapter explained that although Governor Adeleke had fulfilled all the requirements, including the presentation in Abuja, the internal crisis over the national leadership crisis in the party had paralyzed the primaries.
The board referred to the various pending court cases regarding the crisis and concluded that holding primary elections was no longer viable.
“The leadership crisis, now the subject of multiple legal proceedings throughout the country, prevented the holding of the district and local government congresses scheduled for November 24 and 29, 2025, during which delegates for the primaries would be elected.
“In light of these events, it has become inevitable that the PDP gubernatorial primaries can no longer be held as planned,” he stressed.
The development came amid rumors that the governor may have already completed a shift to another political platform to realize his second-term ambition.
He has been linked with a move towards several political parties, including the Agreement Party.
The PDP is currently divided into two camps: one led by Turaki as national chairman, while another is led by Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, a loyalist to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike.
The Turaki-led NWC will officially take office on December 9, when Ambassador Umar Damagum’s term will legally expire, although Turaki has since begun performing the duties of national president.
Ahead of the party’s November 15 National Elective Convention, the Wike-backed camp had opposed it alleging violation of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
He brought cases before a Federal High Court in Abuja and obtained judgments suspending the Ibadan convention.
For its part, Turaki’s camp also sought protection from an Ibadan High Court, which gave it the green light to hold the convention. Final determination of the cases is pending and Wike’s camp has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal.
Both sides had suspended and expelled key officials and leaders, including Wike, as each planned to assume legitimate control of the party.
Two weeks ago, the bubble burst when the two sides clashed at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja’s Wadada Square, forcing the police to fire numerous tear gas canisters while hired thugs invaded the premises.
Many secretariat employees and journalists suffered injuries while trying to flee the chaos that erupted.
The secretariat has remained sealed by the police till date.