Why Osun Governor Adeleke Resigned From PDP

Why Osun Governor Adeleke Resigned From PDP

The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking a second term in office, has quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), becoming the latest high-profile figure to exit a party now burdened by mounting internal lawsuits that threaten the ambitions of many of its aspirants.

Adeleke’s resignation was announced in a statement on Monday night by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

“Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) since November 4th, 2025,” Mr Rasheed wrote.

The letter, he said, was addressed to the PDP Chairman for Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde of Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State.

Adeleke attributed his departure to the deepening crisis within the PDP’s national leadership — a crisis now worsened by a series of litigations challenging congresses, primaries, and the legitimacy of various party organs across the country. These lawsuits have created uncertainty for members seeking elective office, with many fearing that court rulings could invalidate primaries, dissolve executives, or render candidacies void ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

“Due to the current crisis within the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my membership of the PDP with immediate effect,” Mr Rasheed quoted the letter as stating.

“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party.”

Party insiders say the wave of litigations — from battles over parallel state congresses to suits challenging the PDP’s national leadership structure — has contributed to steady defections, with both sitting officials and aspirants seeking parties with more stability ahead of elections.

The spokesperson did not disclose the party Mr Adeleke plans to join. However, reports indicate that the governor previously explored joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), allegedly with support from President Bola Tinubu, before the move was blocked by Osun APC stakeholders.

The Osun State governorship election holds next August, and although Adeleke was elected on the PDP platform, he is now expected to seek re-election under another party.

He joins a growing list of PDP governors — including those of Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Enugu — who have left the party in recent months, amid fears that the unresolved court cases could jeopardize the political future of its members across multiple states.