Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke is reportedly planning a grand move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), OSUN DEFENDER learnt.
Sources told the medium that the governor resorted to the plan, after his proposed move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was aborted.
Recall that members and stakeholders of the opposition party in the state had rejected the decision of Adeleke and his loyalists to move to the APC, stressing that his defection will affect their chances of winning the 2026 governorship election. …CONTINUE READING
While the governor has since restated that he is still with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), some sources hint that the state chief executive and his political strategists are weighing the option of teaming up with Rauf Aregbesola, a former two-term Governor of Osun and the incumbent National Secretary of the ADC, Nigeria’s coalition movement party.
Speaking on why the sitting governor of Osun did not finalise his planned move to APC, one of Adeleke’s godfathers, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola said he was pressured to join the ruling party at the centre.
“Why my governor has not gone was just because it would be a dilemma. APC has not fared well with the people of Osun State, and I can say that. Telling him to roll over to APC will mean ruining his political career because the people will not go along with that.
“He knows it,” Oyinlola who ruled the state from 2003 to 2010 added.
However, fresh developments have hinted that Adeleke is working to collaborate with the Aregbesola camp.
While the ex-Interior Minister’s camp is seeking to present its own candidate for the August 8, 2026 election, sources revealed that the governor has set up machineries to resolve differences between both camps ahead of next election.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that while Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed attacked former governor Aregbesola on July 14 after the latter addressed his supporters in Osogbo, many political watchers had noted that the statement severed the ‘perceived’ political relationship between the two.
A source said, “Yes, the outburst and rebuttal by Adeleke’s spokesperson was very harsh. I can confirm that he was thoroughly reprimanded for that. Now that all of that has been settled, both camps have been talking behind closed doors, finding an amicable way to resolve their differences and work together.
“You know that the move to the APC has been aborted. So, Mr. Governor is finding every means worthy to win a second term. I cannot confirm the terms yet, but it seems Oga will remain in the PDP for now, even though, some ADC members want him to come to the party.”
A member of the Omoluabi Progressives leadership, who prayed not to be named also confirmed knowledge of the rumour. He, however, stated that many members of the coalition party will want the Governor to join the party.
“We have seen a couple of stories on the fact that the Governor is weighing his options to work with us. Yes, he endorsed President Tinubu for a second term, but that does not stop him to seek alliances. He is working on wooing the ADC to his side. He wants us to work with him so he can defeat the APC.
“That is why they are working to pacify our leaders to work with Adeleke. What I do not know is if our principal wants him to come. I cannot confirm that. But this is politics, anything can happen,” the leader said.
OSUN DEFENDER also reports that one of the indicators fuelling the latest development is last Sunday’s courtesy visit of former Governor Aregbesola to his predecessor, Prince Oyinlola at his Okuku country home.
While Oyinlola denied plans to move to the ADC, political analysts and sources privy to the meeting explained that it is the first in the series of public and private meetings that is to come in the next few weeks to finalise Adeleke’s potential move to the coalition
Adeleke Will Not Join ADC, Remains Committed To PDP – Spokesperson
Responding to OSUN DEFENDER’s enquiries,
Adeleke’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed said the rumoured plan by his principal to join the coalition party is untrue.
Reiterating the Governor’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 Presidential Election, the governor said he remains in the PDP and is loved by the people of the state to continue beyond 2026.
The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to news reports and media enquiries about the imminent defection of Governor Adeleke to the ADC or alignment with ADC big wigs ahead of the 2026 governorship race. There is no truth in those publications and speculations.
“First of all, we, the PDP Osun, have already adopted and endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, so there is no alliance with ADC.
“Secondly, Governor Adeleke has no alliance with anyone in ADC. He remains in PDP, will run in PDP, and needs no alliance with ADC to win with a wide margin in 2026.
“The Osun electorate supports Governor Adeleke because of his impressive performance since he came to office. That good work is still ongoing and Osun people are committed to sustaining the delivery of good governance by re-electing Governor Adeleke in 2026”, the Spokesperson was quoted as saying.
We Have No Alliance With Adeleke, Any Party – Omoluabi Progressives Publicist
Also speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, Organising and Publicity Secretary, Omoluabi Progressives, Abosede Oluwaseun dismissed the rumour.
Oluwaseun, who is a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Osun and a loyalist of the former Governor of the state, also noted that the party is not working for Adeleke or any political organisation.
His words, “We are not working for anybody. We are not in any partnership with Governor Adeleke or any political party. We are open to new membership from far and wide, but as we speak, we are not in alignment with anyone.
”When the time comes, our party will open doors for would be aspirants and those willing to contest next year’s election. If anybody is going to join us, there are going to be terms and conditions but as I speak to you, we are not in alignment with anyone.
”We are focused on Osun 2026 and we are sure that the masses will vote ADC to return Osun to the trajectory of good governance and people friendly government – PFG,” Oluwaseun noted.
-Culled: Osun Defender
