Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, alongside former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, openly declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The decision, announced in a communiqué issued after a high-profile stakeholders’ meeting, also confirmed Adeleke’s resolve to remain in the PDP, shelving speculations of his defection to the All Progressives Congress.
The development, however, drew sharp criticism from the African Democratic Congress, which accused Adeleke of political indecision and insisted that his backing of Tinubu would not save him from defeat in the next Osun governorship election.
Reacting to the development, the Osun State chairman of the ADC, Charles Omidiji, said Adeleke’s refusal to join the APC may not eventually save him from defeat.
Omidiji subsequently declared that ADC, a party that has ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola as its Interim National Secretary, would win the next Osun governorship poll.
“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,” he said.
Giving reasons for Adeleke’s decision not to join the APC, despite months of speculations, the communique read, “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.
“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.”
