The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, on Tuesday said the party has not officially received any communication from Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, regarding his purported resignation from the PDP.
Speaking to journalists after the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja, Turaki noted that while Adeleke has the right to stay or leave any political party, the PDP has yet to be formally notified of his decision.
“We have seen in the media a letter purportedly from him resigning his membership, but up to this moment, we have not officially received any such indication that he has left the party,” Turaki said.
He added that Adeleke’s name remains on the list of aspirants vying for the PDP governorship ticket in Osun, and any withdrawal will only be confirmed officially during the primary or through a representative.
“As far as we are concerned, even if what we saw on social media is true, Gov. Adeleke, like any other Nigerian, has the constitutional right to freedom of association. He is free to move in; he is free to move out of any political party,” Turaki stated.
The PDP chairman emphasized that the party’s strength lies with its members rather than individual officeholders. “If you go to states where some governors left, a survey will show that most people did not follow them. That is what we are counting on,” he said, adding that the party remains intact and confident in its support base.
On internal party processes, Turaki said the NWC had reviewed and approved the congresses in Osun that selected ad-hoc delegates and confirmed that the governorship primary in the state is ongoing peacefully.
He also addressed preparations for the Anambra local government elections, stating that party leadership in the state is well-prepared. “We are hoping that we will sweep that election when it is conducted,” he said.
Turaki further noted that former PDP governors nominated by President Bola Tinubu for ministerial appointments had not yet communicated with the party. “If they come to us, we will consider it on its merit and take a decision on the appropriate response. But for now, we have not received any communication from them,” he said.
On Nigeria’s security challenges, Turaki said the NWC urged the Federal Government to review the country’s security architecture, stressing that governors should have more operational control over military and security personnel in their states.
“We in the PDP believe a situation where governors are called chief security officers, yet have no control over the operational activities of the military and security personnel in their states, needs to be overhauled,” he said.
