The National Deputy Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Kamorudeen Ajisafe, has revealed that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, may be forced to secure another political platform ahead of the 2026 governorship election due to deepening internal crises within the PDP.
Speaking on a private radio programme, Frank Talk, Ajisafe explained that the ongoing conflict within the party has made it unlikely for the PDP to field a candidate for next year’s governorship poll in Osun. According to him, the situation mirrors what happened in Ekiti State, where the party suffered setbacks following Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s resistance to party decisions.
Ajisafe noted that with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) setting December 15 as the deadline for parties to conduct primaries for the 2026 governorship election, the PDP may be unable to meet the requirement. After this date, INEC will not recognise any candidate that emerges from a primary conducted outside the approved timeline.
In his words, “If anything is happening in Osun right now, it revolves around the need for a platform to contest. Where is the platform to contest? If you are truly committed to the party, would you be happy losing someone like the Governor of Taraba State? The issue in Osun is different. Our election is in 2026, and the primary deadline is December 15. How do we manage that? What would you advise—should someone stay in a party where they cannot exercise their right to seek re-election?”
He stressed that it is already clear that the PDP cannot successfully present a candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship race. Using an analogy, he said, “If you lock your gate and block my entry, and another house opens their gate freely, should I complain about yours being locked?”
Ajisafe linked the current crisis to long-standing disagreements involving key party figures, including Nyesom Wike and Senator Anyanwu.
Meanwhile, political insiders in Osun State indicate that Governor Adeleke is already exploring alternative parties. There are strong indications that he may soon move to either the Accord Party or the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to pursue his re-election bid.
Sources close to the discussions disclosed that the governor has held talks with Accord Party stakeholders regarding a possible defection. However, some insiders say the arrangement is not yet final, as Adeleke is carefully weighing all available options to secure a viable ticket for the August 8, 2026 election.
