PDP Explains Absence in Osun Election Due to Adeleke's Withdrawal

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), backed by the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, announced that the withdrawal of Governor Ademola Adeleke from its nomination process was the reason for not fielding a candidate in the August 15, 2026, governorship election in Osun State. This information was provided by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, in a statement released on Friday.

Mohammed noted that Adeleke was the only aspirant who had purchased the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms and had been cleared for the primary scheduled for December 2, 2025. Following Adeleke's withdrawal on November 1, 2025, the PDP was left without a candidate.

The party also addressed claims regarding a recent Court of Appeal judgment that allegedly recognized a faction led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, asserting that the judgment did not determine the legitimate leadership of the PDP. Mohammed raised questions about the nomination process for any purported PDP candidate for the Osun election, emphasizing that the leadership crisis and nomination dispute were separate issues.