PDP Crisis Deepens as Umar Sani Accuses Adeleke of Obstruction

PDP Crisis widens as Umar Sani alleges Governor Adeleke is obstructing the party from fielding a 2026 governorship candidate

Peoples Democratic Party chieftain Umar Sani on Friday alleged that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke was working to prevent the party from producing a candidate for the 2026 governorship election, as the PDP Crisis intensified following Adeleke’s recent resignation from the party.

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Sani made the claim while speaking on ARISE NEWS, insisting that Governor Adeleke’s political calculations were designed solely to ensure his personal survival.

Sani said Governor Adeleke believed the party was too divided to present a candidate whose nomination would be recognised by the electoral commission.

He argued that the governor’s manoeuvres were aimed at exploiting uncertainty within the PDP rather than strengthening the party’s institutional standing, a development he described as troubling for members committed to internal democracy.

Adeleke resigned from the PDP earlier in the week, citing persistent leadership turmoil at the national level.

His exit came shortly before the party held its governorship primary in Osogbo, where Adedamola Adebayo secured 919 of 957 delegate votes to emerge as the PDP candidate for the 2026 Osun poll. Neither Adeleke nor other key state leaders attended the exercise.

Despite the governor’s public departure, PDP National Chairman Tanimu Turaki said the party had not received formal notification of his resignation.

Speaking to journalists after the National Working Committee meeting in Abuja, Turaki stressed that official communication was still pending.

Sani maintained that while Adeleke had every constitutional right to defect, he should not stand in the party’s way as it sought to field a candidate.

He argued that it would set a dangerous precedent if the party were to abandon its own platform in anticipation of the governor’s return from another political party.

He said the PDP had no intention of allowing its structures to be undermined by shifting loyalties, emphasising that the primary had been conducted peacefully and transparently. Describing the situation as a test of the party’s resilience, he called on members to remain steadfast as the process moved forward.

Addressing speculation that the PDP might be using a placeholder candidate pending further internal resolutions, Sani confirmed that the party already had a recognised nominee. He added that substitutions could still occur within the legally permitted window.

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Calls to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokesperson, Rasheed Olawale, seeking comment on Sani’s remarks went unanswered on Friday.