BREAKING: Adedamola emerges PDP governorship candidate

Adebayo Adedamola has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State election following Tuesday’s primary election held in Osogbo, the state capital.

Adedamola secured 919 votes out of 957 cast by accredited delegates. Announcing the results, the Chairman of the Primary Committee, Humphrey Abba, disclosed that 20 votes were voided, adding that one of the aspirants had earlier withdrawn from the race.

“The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and stands elected and returned,” Abba declared.

The development comes despite the appearance of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s name on the ballot—just hours after news broke of his formal resignation from the PDP.

Earlier, the Secretary of the Primary Committee, Sunday Solarin, announced the commencement of voting at about 11:35 a.m. after delegate accreditation. He clarified that Adeleke and Adedamola were originally listed as the two aspirants but noted that Adeleke’s resignation rendered any vote cast for him “a waste.”

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside a PDP national delegation led by Abba, monitored the exercise. Security was tight, with operatives of the DSS, police, and NSCDC stationed around the venue.

Adeleke’s resignation letter — dated November 4, 2025, and addressed to the PDP Ward 2 Chairman, Sagba Abogunde, Ede North — cited the ongoing crisis within the national leadership of the party.

“Due to the current crisis within the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my membership… with immediate effect,” the governor wrote. His spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed the resignation.

The PDP in Osun had earlier hinted that Adeleke might not pursue the party’s ticket for the 2026 election unless the national leadership crisis was resolved and accepted by INEC within the stipulated timeline.

According to the INEC timetable for the August 8, 2026 governorship poll, political parties have until December 15 to submit the names of their candidates.

With Adeleke out of the race and Adedamola now elected as flagbearer, the PDP appears to have taken a decisive step in navigating its internal turbulence ahead of the crucial 2026 contest.