Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has resigned his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, less than 24 hours before the party’s scheduled governorship primary election. His resignation has added fresh tension to the internal crisis that has rocked the party in recent weeks.
The PDP Chairman in Osun State, Sunday Bisi, had earlier announced on Monday that the party would not proceed with the primary election on Tuesday due to the deepening factional issues within the state chapter. He also revealed that Governor Adeleke had lost interest in contesting for the party’s nomination because of the crisis.
However, a letter from the PDP National Secretariat later circulated, insisting that the primary election would still hold as scheduled. According to the letter, the exercise would take place on Tuesday at the Atlantic Multipurpose Hall in Osogbo, the state capital, despite the uncertainty caused by the divisions in the party.
The situation took a new turn when Governor Adeleke’s resignation letter, dated November 4, 2025, surfaced on Monday evening. The letter, addressed to the Chairman of Sagba Ward 2 in Ede, confirmed that the governor had formally withdrawn his membership from the PDP.
In the letter titled “Resignation of my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”, Governor Adeleke said the ongoing crisis within the national leadership of the party pushed him to make the decision. He wrote, “Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my membership of the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect.”
He also expressed appreciation to the PDP for the platform it provided him over the years. “I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party,” the letter added.
Governor Adeleke’s resignation has created a major shift in Osun politics, as the PDP now faces uncertainty over its primary election, the legitimacy of its process, and the future of its political structure in the state. It remains unclear whether the party will proceed with Tuesday’s primary or announce a fresh date in light of the new development.
