Adebayo Adedamola on Tuesday emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Osun 2026 election.
Adedamola received 919 votes out of 957 in the primary conducted in Osogbo, the state capital.
Humphrey Abba, the primary chairman, declared the results: “Void votes 20. We informed you before that one of the candidates withdrew.
“The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and stands elected and returned.”
Despite announcing his resignation from the party, the name of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke appeared on the ballot paper for the PDP governorship primary.
Sunday Solarin, Secretary of the Committee in Charge of the Primary, announced the commencement of voting shortly after delegates were accredited at 11:35 a.m.
Solarin stated that Adeleke and Adebayo Adedamola were the two candidates vying for the party’s ticket, adding that Adeleke had already resigned from the party.
He went on to say that votes cast for Adeleke would “eventually amount to waste” and urged delegates to observe the voting procedures.
Representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission, as well as a team led by Humphrey Abba from the PDP national headquarters, were in attendance.
There was also a strong security presence, with personnel from the Department of State Security, the police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps stationed at the entrance and departure points.
The chairman of the primary committee declared the start of proceedings at 11:07 a.m., while delegates confirmed their names before voting.
Earlier, Adeleke announced his resignation from the PDP.
His resignation letter, dated November 4, 2025, was addressed to Sagba Abogunde, PDP Ward 2 Chairman of Ede North Local Government.
The letter said in part, “Due to the current crisis within the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my membership with immediate effect.”
“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a senator (representing Osun West) and as governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party.”
However, his choice may change if the party’s internal difficulties are handled, recognized by INEC, and completed within the Commission’s timeframe for the Osun election.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday, Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi said the continuous issues had made it impossible to hold the governorship primary as planned on December 2.
According to the timeline provided by INEC describing events leading up to the August 8, 2026, Osun governorship election, parties fielding candidates have till December 15 to submit the names of their flagbearers.
