Cracks in Osun PDP over alleged imposition of candidates for LG polls

A fresh crisis has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State following a struggle for party tickets ahead of the local government election slated for February 22, 2025.

Some prominent figures alleged the imposition of candidates ahead of the primaries, saying some party leaders have been affirming and endorsing candidates.

They said most of those being penciled at various wards for the councillorship and chairmanship positions are the immediate past caretaker chairmen who resigned their positions.

Some of those who alleged imposition said party executive officers at state and ward levels are not fair and transparent.

One of them, a female politician from Iragbiji town in the state, Falilat Arike, vented her anger against the party leadership on social media on Thursday amid sobs and wailing.

Arike claimed that the party cheated her husband, Alhaji Akeem Oyetunji who is also a politician in the town as none of those he is rooting for the posts of councillorship was considered by the party executive and leaders in the four wards of Iragbiji.

She took to her social media page and announced her exit from the PDP, saying she has done a lot for the party and that her husband does not deserve to be shortchanged.

“When I married my husband, he said I should give him full support that he is a core PDP member and I gave him my full support. He was cheated the first time and they assured him that there would be another election. Now, all the four councillors in Iragbiji are his own and they won but now, they have reversed it.

“I gave all the executives of PDP in Iragbiji my full support. This must not happen to me. It must not be so. The people of Osun should come to my aid. I am no longer in PDP. PDP has pushed me out,” she said while crying and rolling on the floor.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Ademola Adeleke had on Tuesday, had warned against infighting in the party, saying such development could weaken the ruling party.

Addressing the PDP stakeholders who were at a meeting ahead of the chairmanship and councillorship primaries for local government elections in the state, Adeleke had said, “I can say it anywhere that PDP is the progressive party.

“In Osun, we have a disciplined party that’s working for the people. My only appeal to us is that we must remain united. We should never allow our issues to degenerate. We must remain one united family.”

He urged members to prioritise the upcoming local government election as a crucial step toward the 2026 governorship election.

He stressed that any infighting could weaken their chances of winning the elections.

Adeleke also called on party leaders to avoid airing the party problems on social media, and to resolve any internal issues within the party, saying, “We should stop taking matters to social media. We should resolve our matters internally.”

The governor noted that a unified front is essential in countering “wounded opposition” who want to undermine the state’s progress.

Adeleke called for strict adherence to party discipline and decisions made by the leadership, stating that such measures are necessary to strengthen the party and improve its electoral prospects.

In his remarks, the PDP state Chairman, Sunday Bisi, denied allegations of candidate imposition ahead of the primaries.

He said the claim that the party or Adeleke dynasty was attempting to impose candidates for local government positions was a ruse.

“It is not true that the Adeleke dynasty or any other group is imposing candidates on the local governments,” the chairman clarified.

“Politics is local, and everyone is free to go to their local government and make arrangements for their preferred chairmanship and councillorship candidates. As a party that practices democracy, we cannot twist anyone’s arm. Everyone is free to aspire for any position they wish.”

The chairman urged all candidates to go to their grassroots and work for their tickets while adding that Osun PDP is fully prepared for the upcoming local government election.