By Abdulraheem Kawthar Adenike | Fact Frontier.
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In a dramatic and contentious turn of events, Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, widely known as FRYO, was declared the winner of a factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary for the 2026 Osun State election today, December 2, 2025. This primary proceeded despite an official announcement from the state party leadership postponing the exercise indefinitely.
A Primary Amidst Confusion
The primary, held at the PDP state secretariat in Osogbo, saw Adedamola secure a landslide victory. According to multiple reports from national dailies, he polled 919 votes out of the 957 total votes cast by accredited delegates. The Chairman of the Electoral Committee for the factional primary announced the result and presented Adedamola as the party's flagbearer.
In his acceptance speech, Adedamola struck a reconciliatory tone, calling for unity within the fractured party.
I extend the olive branch to other aspirants. I need their support to win the main election. I also beg all party members to come together and work for the party’s victory,he stated, as reported by The Punch.
Official Party Position: Primary Postponed
However, the legitimacy of this primary is under intense dispute. Just one day prior, on December 1, 2025, the State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Sunday Bisi, announced the indefinite postponement of the governorship primary. Bisi cited an "internal party crisis" that made it impossible to conduct a credible and peaceful election.
The party has decided to postpone the primary election. A new date will be announced later. We cannot go ahead with the primary given the present internal party crisis,Bisi was quoted as saying by Vanguard Newspaper. This official postponement casts a long shadow over the validity of the December 2 exercise, suggesting it was conducted by a dissenting faction of the party.
A Vacuum and a Controversial Figure
The primary process was also marked by the notable absence of the incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke. Governor Adeleke had formally resigned his membership from the PDP on November 28, 2025, a move that shocked the state's political landscape. Despite his resignation, his name inexplicably remained on the ballot for the December 2 primary, where he reportedly secured zero votes.
The emergence of Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola adds another layer of complexity. The candidate, known by his nickname FRYO, is a controversial figure in Osun politics. While his victory in today's primary is a factual event as reported, his political history is subject to intense and polarized discussion on social media and among political commentators, which may influence the public's reception of his candidacy.
Political Fallout and the Road Ahead
The events of December 2, 2025, have plunged the Osun State PDP into an unprecedented crisis. The state now has two conflicting realities: one where a candidate has been duly elected by delegates, and another where the party's official leadership maintains that no primary took place.
This factional split presents a significant obstacle for the PDP as it looks toward the 2026 gubernatorial race. The party now faces the immediate challenge of reconciling these parallel narratives and determining a legally recognized candidate to avoid disqualification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The coming days are expected to involve high-wire political negotiations, potential legal challenges, and intense pressure from the party's national headquarters to resolve the impasse.
