Adebayo Adedamola on Tuesday emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun election, securing a decisive victory at the party’s primary held in Osogbo, the state capital.
Adedamola polled 919 votes out of the 957 valid ballots cast. His only challenger, Governor Ademola Adeleke, had earlier withdrawn from the race, though his name remained on the ballot. The situation has fuelled speculation that Adeleke’s political future remains uncertain until he makes clearer moves regarding his next steps.
Announcing the results, chairman of the primary committee, Humphrey Abba, disclosed that 20 votes were voided. “We told you earlier that one of the aspirants had withdrawn. The candidate that secured the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and is hereby declared elected and returned,” he stated.
Despite his withdrawal and formal resignation from the PDP, Adeleke’s name still appeared on the ballot used for the primary. Before voting began, committee secretary Sunday Solarin briefed delegates after accreditation closed at 11:35 a.m., reiterating that any votes cast for Adeleke would be invalid and urging delegates to adhere to the guidelines.
Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside the Humphrey Abba-led committee from the PDP national headquarters, supervised the exercise. Security was tight, with operatives of the DSS, police and NSCDC deployed around the venue.
Voting commenced at 11:07 a.m. after delegates confirmed their details and proceeded into the hall.
Adeleke had earlier resigned from the PDP in a letter dated November 4, 2025, addressed to Sagba Abogunde, chairman of Ward 2, Ede North. In the letter, he attributed his exit to the ongoing crisis within the party’s national leadership and expressed gratitude for the opportunities to serve both as senator and governor under the party’s platform. His spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed the resignation.
Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi recently suggested that Adeleke may have lost interest in contesting for the party’s 2026 ticket unless the internal crisis is resolved in accordance with INEC’s requirements. He explained that the unresolved turbulence within the party forced the postponement of the primary initially scheduled for December 2.
INEC’s timetable for the August 8, 2026 governorship election mandates all political parties to submit their candidates’ names by December 15.