The Osun State caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives has cautioned Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to refrain from interfering in the political affairs of Osun State.
The lawmakers also dismissed as invalid the governorship primary conducted on Tuesday, which reportedly produced Adebayo Adedamola as the PDP’s candidate for the 2026 governorship election.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Bamidele Salam, Mudashiru Alani, Akanni Ademola, Adewale Adebayo, Adetunji Olusoji and Oladebo Omoleye, the caucus accused Makinde of actions capable of endangering political stability in the state.
They alleged that the primary election was marked by irregularities and was coordinated with the use of hired thugs and political agents allegedly brought in from Ibadan, Oyo State. The lawmakers described the exercise as fraudulent and accused the Oyo governor of attempting to extend his political influence into Osun through improper means.
According to the statement, the PDP has clear constitutional procedures for conducting primaries, including the election of ward and national delegates, which the caucus said were not followed. They maintained that any outcome produced outside these guidelines remains invalid.
The lawmakers warned that anyone laying claim to the PDP governorship ticket based on the disputed exercise would be engaging in impersonation and risking unrest among party members in Osun State.
They further criticised what they termed the exportation of “impunity and recklessness” into Osun, noting that the state currently has an elected governor who governs through consultation and inclusion.
Reaffirming their loyalty to the 1999 Constitution and the PDP’s internal rules, the caucus insisted that all aspirants for the 2026 governorship race must abide by due process. They urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard the outcome of the disputed primary and recognise only processes conducted in line with the PDP constitution.
The controversy, according to the lawmakers, is rooted in the lingering leadership crisis at the national level of the PDP. The party has been fractured by opposing factions linked to different power blocs, including a group associated with Governor Makinde and another loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The rivalry has affected the functioning of the party’s national organs.
They noted that the suspension and counter-suspension of key national officers responsible for organising congresses and transmitting candidates’ names to INEC have further stalled legitimate party processes across several states, including Osun.
The statement also recalled that on November 4, 2025, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, formally resigned from the PDP, citing the unresolved national leadership crisis as the reason for his departure.
