The political atmosphere in Osun State has heated up following the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid by Governor Ademola Adeleke, former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and other prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in the state.
The endorsement, announced in a communiqué released after a high-level PDP stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, confirmed Governor Adeleke’s commitment to remain in the PDP, quashing speculations about his possible defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the move has triggered sharp criticism from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which described Adeleke’s position as politically inconsistent and claimed that the endorsement would not prevent his defeat in the upcoming 2026 Osun governorship election.
Present at the stakeholders’ meeting were Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, Senator Lere Oyewumi representing Osun East, Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi, former PDP National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo, and other key figures.
The communiqué from the meeting read, “The PDP in Osun State recognises the fact that Osun State is the ancestral home of President Bola Tinubu, which makes the President the son of Osun State. Therefore, the PDP in Osun State hereby adopts and endorses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in the 2027 presidential election.”
It also backed Governor Adeleke as the party’s sole candidate for the 2026 governorship race, “PDP in Osun State reaffirms its adoption and endorsement of Governor Ademola Adeleke for re-election in the 2026 governorship election on the platform of the PDP.”
The communiqué further urged party members to stay united behind Adeleke, “Governor Ademola Adeleke and all members of the PDP in Osun State should remain in the PDP. The leadership of the PDP in Osun State is directed to disseminate the resolution to all structures of the party in the state.”
In response, Osun ADC Chairman, Charles Omidiji, dismissed the PDP’s move as futile, stating that Adeleke’s failure to defect to the APC wouldn’t save him from losing his seat. He asserted that the ADC, which has former Governor Rauf Aregbesola as its interim national secretary, is positioned to take over power in the state.
Omidiji said, “If he doesn’t join the APC again, it will only reduce the margin of the loss awaiting him at the poll. If he had defected, that would have been the end of both the APC and PDP in Osun. But whatever happens, ADC will produce the next Osun governor.”
Providing context for Adeleke’s decision to remain in the PDP, the communiqué explained, “The majority of the members of the APC in Osun State are opposed to the idea of the defection of Governor Adeleke to the APC, which did not originate from the governor in the first instance.
“Some APC leaders, based on entrenched interests, have demonstrated hostility and resentment towards Governor Ademola Adeleke. Some went on social media and national television to call Governor Adeleke all kinds of unprintable names.”
It added that PDP members were not in favor of a defection, but expressed readiness to support the governor regardless of his political decisions, “The majority of PDP members in Osun State are not happy about the idea of the defection of Governor Adeleke to the APC, but reluctantly agreed to follow Governor Adeleke to whichever party he goes to show their love, support and loyalty to his leadership.”
