JUST IN: Adebayo Adedamola Clinches PDP Ticket for Osun 2026 Poll Amid Adeleke’s Exit

Adebayo Adedamola has secured the Peoples Democratic Party’s ticket for the Osun 2026 governorship election, emerging from a primary held in Osogbo on Tuesday in the absence of Governor Ademola Adeleke, who had earlier resigned from the party.

Adedamola received 919 of the 957 votes cast. Announcing the results, committee chair Humphrey Abba noted that 20 ballots were voided and that one aspirant had withdrawn before voting commenced.

Although Adeleke’s name appeared on the ballot, officials clarified that any votes cast for him would not count following his resignation. The primary began shortly after delegate accreditation concluded around 11:35 a.m., with representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission observing the exercise amid a strong deployment of security operatives.

Adeleke’s resignation letter, dated November 4 and addressed to his ward chairman in Ede North, cited unresolved national leadership issues within the party. His spokesperson confirmed the development earlier on Tuesday.

PDP leaders in Osun recently suggested that Adeleke had lost interest in contesting the 2026 ticket unless ongoing crises were resolved in line with the electoral commission’s timeline. Party chairman Sunday Bisi explained on Monday that the internal disputes had already disrupted plans to hold the primary as originally scheduled.

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