Osun State Government has shed light on the circumstances surrounding Governor Ademola Adeleke’s resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the move as a necessary response to deepening internal divisions within the party’s national leadership.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, made the clarification on Tuesday during an interview on Rave FM’s Frank Talk. He confirmed that Governor Adeleke had tendered his resignation letter weeks earlier, on November 4, 2025, to party officials in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government Area.
Alimi stressed that the decision was neither hasty nor impulsive, noting that the governor had long reached the conclusion that remaining in the PDP would jeopardise his re-election bid due to unresolved disputes at the party’s national level.
“The governor of Osun State and the Asiwaju of Ede has formally resigned his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party. He had written his resignation letter for quite a long time,” the commissioner said.
He added that Governor Adeleke remained grateful for the support of Osun residents, urging citizens to stay calm and continue standing by the administration. According to him, the governor considers public support crucial to sustaining governance stability.
“It was long overdue. We appreciate the people for their support, and we can only urge them to continue to support the governor,” Alimi stated, referencing a Yoruba expression that underscores the people as a leader’s shield.
Explaining the factors behind Adeleke’s departure, the commissioner pointed to the persistent leadership crisis within the PDP—an impasse he said became more consequential with the 2026 governorship election fast approaching. He emphasised that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable, which closes the nomination window on December 15, 2025, compelled the governor to act decisively.
“The governor is happy with the reaction so far. Everybody understands that if not for the crisis at the national level, which plays a crucial role in nomination, the governor wouldn’t have resigned. It’s about facing reality; our election is in August, but INEC closes the nomination window on December 15,” he explained.
Reacting to suggestions that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) welcomed Adeleke’s exit, Alimi dismissed such claims as deceptive, insisting the APC is unsettled by the governor’s strategic timing.
“They’re pretending. They know what has hit them. They thought he would be gullible enough to contest under a crisis-ridden party so they could challenge him in court. But Adeleke is smarter; every step they take, he is ahead of them,” the commissioner said.
Alimi alleged that some of those stoking the PDP crisis are sympathetic to rival parties, further complicating the governor’s position within the party.
On the question of Governor Adeleke’s next political platform, the commissioner said consultations were ongoing and that clarity would emerge before the INEC deadline.
“He has resigned now, but on or before December 12 or 13, everyone will know where he is going. The deadline for nomination and party primaries is December 15,” he noted.
Alimi maintained that Adeleke’s resignation was entirely avoidable, arguing that the governor would have remained in the PDP had the party not been engulfed by factional disputes at the national level.
“Had the PDP not been fractionalized at the national level, there wouldn’t have been any reason for Governor Ademola Adeleke to resign,” he concluded.
