Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, popularly known as FRYO, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate for the August 8, 2026 governorship election in Osun State. His victory marks a defining moment for the party, coming amid internal disputes, last-minute resignations, and conflicting directives from party leadership.
A Tense Primary Amid Heavy Security
The primary election took place in Osogbo on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, under a visibly heavy security presence. Delegates from across Osun State arrived early for accreditation at the Atlantis Multipurpose Hall, where the exercise was eventually conducted despite uncertainties that clouded the hours leading up to the vote.
A total of 957 delegates were accredited to participate in the ballot.
FRYO’s Resounding Victory
Announcing the results, the chairman of the PDP primary election committee, Humphrey Abba, declared Adebayo Adedamola the clear winner after he polled 919 votes out of 957 accredited ballots.
Abba explained that 20 votes were void, following the withdrawal of one of the candidates—believed to be incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke.
He stated:
“The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes, and he stands elected and returned.”
The outcome not only underscored Adedamola’s dominance within the delegate body but also signaled broad internal support across the state’s 30 local government areas and the Modakeke area office.
Adeleke’s Resignation and a Controversial Ballot
Despite announcing his resignation from the PDP two days earlier, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s name still appeared on the ballot paper. Findings show that his exit letter, dated November 4, 2025, was addressed to party leadership at his ward, citing unresolved crises within the party’s national structure.
Because the withdrawal came late, election officials explained that the ballot could not be reprinted or altered before the primary.
Party officials insisted that the primary was conducted in line with established PDP and INEC guidelines, with duly accredited delegates participating in the voting process.
Factional Divide and Confusion Before the Poll
On the eve of the primary, Osun PDP chairman Sunday Bisi publicly announced that the governorship primary had been postponed, citing leadership crises at the national level.
However, a faction of the party proceeded with the exercise in Osogbo the following day, insisting that all statutory requirements had already been fulfilled—including the earlier submission of nomination forms and delegate congresses.
This faction’s decision produced the primary through which Adedamola ultimately emerged victorious.
What Adedamola’s Emergence Means
Adebayo Adedamola’s victory positions him as the new face of the PDP heading into the 2026 governorship race. With Adeleke’s exit and a divided party structure, his immediate task will be reuniting stakeholders, stabilising party ranks, and presenting a compelling agenda capable of appealing to Osun voters.
His strong mandate from delegates gives him leverage, but the coming months will determine how well he can navigate internal politics and the broader electoral battlefield.
