The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State is grappling with a significant internal dispute regarding its upcoming 2026 governorship primary election. Initially, the Osun State chapter of the party announced on Monday the suspension of the primary, which was originally slated for Tuesday, December 2, 2025. This decision, communicated by State Chairman Sunday Bisi in Osogbo, was attributed to a lingering leadership crisis at the national level, coupled with ongoing court cases that have plagued the party.

According to Bisi, the national leadership crisis had intensified shortly after the completion of pre-primary procedures. The suspension and counter-suspension of key national officers, who are statutorily central to the conduct of congresses, primaries, and the transmission of a candidate's name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), created an environment of uncertainty. This directly impacted the scheduled exercise by making it impossible to hold the statutory ad-hoc ward and local government congresses slated for November 24 and 29, 2025. These congresses are crucial for electing delegates who would then participate in the primaries.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, the incumbent, had completed all procedural requirements, including purchasing and submitting his nomination and expression of interest forms between October 13 and 25, 2025, and being cleared by the screening committee on October 30, 2025. He remained the sole aspirant who had fulfilled these conditions. However, the state chapter disclosed a significant concern: Governor Adeleke might no longer be interested in seeking the PDP's nomination for the 2026 Osun Gubernatorial Election unless a resolution recognized by INEC is reached within the electoral timeline. While acknowledging that the conduct of governorship primaries lies solely with the PDP National Secretariat, the state chapter emphasized its duty of transparency to the people of Osun and its members.

In a contradictory turn of events, the PDP at the national level insisted that the primary election would proceed as scheduled. A statement issued by its National Organising Secretary, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, reaffirmed the date of December 2, 2025, for the primary. The national secretariat stated that following an earlier notice to INEC on October 28, 2025, and the successful completion of congresses to elect ad-hoc and national delegates in Osun State on November 24 and 29, 2025, the primary would be held at the Atlantis Multipurpose Hall, Ring Road, Osogbo, Osun State, starting at 10 am. This assertion directly contradicted the state chapter's claim that the delegate congresses could not be held.

The national statement further confirmed that an electoral committee for the primaries had been constituted and would oversee the conduct of the process. It also advised cleared candidates to adhere to the party's constitution and maintain law and order, warning that any act of indiscipline would be severely punished. This conflicting information from the state and national chapters highlights the deep-seated leadership crisis within the PDP, creating confusion and uncertainty regarding the critical governorship primary in Osun State.