Kabiru Turaki, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has stated that the party has not received any formal communication from Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State regarding his resignation.
Adeleke had announced on Tuesday that he was leaving the PDP, citing the ongoing crisis within the party as his reason for departure.
Speaking to journalists after the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja, Turaki acknowledged that Adeleke is constitutionally entitled to either stay or leave the party.
He added that the PDP only became aware of Adeleke’s resignation through media reports and has yet to receive an official notice from the governor.
“We have seen online a letter said to be from him resigning from our party, but I tell you that we have not, up to this moment, received any formal indication that he has left,” Turaki said.
The factional chairman noted that Adeleke’s name is still listed among the aspirants vying for the Osun governorship ticket.
He added that the party would depend on reports from its officials at the primary to ascertain whether the governor has formally withdrawn or is still participating in the contest.
“As far as we are concerned, even if the letter circulating online is genuine, Gov. Adeleke, like any Nigerian, has the freedom to associate as he wishes,” Turaki said.
Turaki emphasized that the PDP’s true strength resides in its supporters rather than in elected officials who decide to leave the party.
He added that defections by governors in certain states have not substantially weakened the party’s grassroots backing.
“Our people have remained with us, and by God’s grace, when elections come, they will show that the PDP is still solid,” he said.
Turaki stated that the National Working Committee (NWC) had reviewed and approved the congresses conducted in Osun for the election of ad hoc delegates.
He added that preparations for the local government elections in Anambra were also assessed, with the party expressing confidence in achieving a strong performance.
Turaki further noted that former PDP governors nominated by President Bola Tinubu for non-career ambassadorial positions have yet to inform the party.
“If they approach us, we will consider their communication on its merit,” he said.
Addressing the nation’s worsening security situation, Turaki urged the federal government to urgently reassess Nigeria’s security framework.
He remarked that it is unreasonable to designate governors as chief security officers when they have no real control over security operations in their states.
“We call on the federal government to brace up and begin a comprehensive review of the security framework in this country,” he said.
