Adeleke ends speculation of defection, affirms commitment to PDP

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has put an end to speculations about a possible defection to the APC, affirming his commitment to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This decision was reached at a high-level meeting of the Osun State PDP leadership caucus held at the Government House in Osogbo.

The meeting, which was convened in response to recent political developments and widespread public discourse, reviewed feedback gathered from various segments of the society including traditional rulers, community leaders, religious figures, civil servants, market leaders, party members, and residents across the state.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the caucus highlighted that “all politics is local” and stressed the need to respect the will of the people.

It noted that the idea of Governor Adeleke defecting to the APC did not originate from him, and was largely unpopular among both PDP and APC members in the state.

According to the communique, many APC members expressed strong opposition to the idea of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s defection, with some leaders even publicly attacking the governor.

The caucus reaffirmed that both Governor Ademola Adeleke as its candidate for the 2026 governorship election urging him and all party members to remain within the PDP.

The party also adopted and endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in the 2027 presidential election, describing him as “a son of Osun State” due to his ancestral heritage.

The communique was signed by top leaders of the party including former Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Deputy Governor Prince Kola Adewusi; Senators Lere Oyewumi and Oluwole Alabi; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun; Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi, and other key stakeholders.

The speculation is not unconnected to the ongoing mass defection and rapid collapse of the PDP structure in Osun State thus bringing the Osun governor under the spotlight of possible defection, with the APC hinted as his possible destination.

Rumours of the governor’s defection plot began with his visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during last month’s Eid al-Adha celebration.

The visit to the President at his Lagos residence alongside his nephew, Davido, and brother, Deji Adeleke, marked the beginning of the speculations on his alleged defection plot.

Whereas Adeleke and the APC had over time debunked the speculations, a video snippet of Davido’s upcoming single affirmed the speculations on the imminent defection of his uncle and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

As contained in the lyrics of the video snippet, Davido could be heard singing “new broom go sweep better” and “from umbrella to broom,” which were references to the logos of the APC and the PDP.

The APC is renowned for the iconic broom image on its flag, while the umbrella has been the PDP’s insignia since the inception of the party.

While the singer did not make direct reference to the political parties, with Adeleke’s name also not mentioned, his reference to the APC and PDP logos was a clear indication of further proof of the Osun state governor’s impending defection to the APC.

However, some chieftains of the APC in Ọsun are uncomfortable with how the governor is going with his plan.

Former national secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who commented on the issue on national television Tuesday night, said the governor couldn’t have defected to the APC through social media.

Omisore, who was also a former deputy governor of Osun, added that neither the party leadership nor the elders’ caucus was aware of the governor’s plans.