Amid the escalating crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the national level, following the suspension and counter-suspension of key members of its National Working Committee, NWC, the Osun State chapters of the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have clashed over the potential impact of the turmoil ahead of the August 8, 2026, governorship election in the state.
The Osun PDP, through its Director of Media and Publicity, Hezekiah Oladele Bamiji, maintained that the party remains strong and united despite the challenges confronting its national leadership.
The APC, in a separate statement issued by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, asserted that the recent developments are clear evidence that the PDP has completely collapsed.
Salient Times reports that during a recent meeting in Abuja, the PDP’s NWC announced the suspension of several top officials, including the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, among others.
In response, a faction of the party loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, retaliated by suspending the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the NWC.
Addressing the situation, the Osun PDP dismissed claims by the APC that it had halted all meetings at the state and local government levels, describing such assertions as “a mere fabrication.”
“We remain united, solid, and focused on delivering the dividends of democracy under the purposeful leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke,” Bamiji said.
He added, “No amount of falsehood or mischievous propaganda from a frustrated opposition can shake our foundation. We understand the predicament of the APC, whose only hope for 2026 is to pray that Governor Adeleke is disqualified from contesting.
“Such barren prayers have been rejected by both God and the people of Osun State. If the APC truly believes it has the capacity to compete, it should prepare for the ballot rather than dwell on imaginary crises within the PDP.
“The desperate political actors parading themselves as APC leaders in Osun are merely attempting to beautify their looming failure by wishing for national disarray in our great party.”
In a swift reaction, APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi insisted that the unfolding crisis within the PDP has vindicated the opposition’s earlier position that the ruling party in Osun is plagued by deep internal division and mismanagement.
He stated, “We urge our loyal supporters to be discerning in their political choices. It is now evident that a party that cannot successfully manage its internal affairs should not be entrusted with governing over five million people in Osun State.
“With the current developments at the PDP national secretariat, it is clear that the screening document presented last week in Abuja for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s candidacy was nothing more than a worthless piece of paper.
“The PDP has not only moved out of the Intensive Care Unit but is fast approaching its political burial.”
