The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed widespread speculation that Governor Ademola Adeleke is considering a defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite political tensions surrounding the ongoing local government crisis in the state.
This clarification was issued by the Osun PDP spokesperson, Oladele Bamiji, during an interview with The Punch, as reported by Naija News. Bamiji categorically stated that Governor Adeleke has not informed the PDP leadership or his political associates of any intention to abandon the party under which he was elected in favor of the ruling APC or any other political group.
According to Bamiji, the rumors appear to be unfounded and may have been fueled by Adeleke’s open support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu. He emphasized that this support does not equate to political alignment or plans to switch party allegiance. He maintained that Adeleke remains committed to the PDP, the platform that brought him into office, and to the electorate that voted for him under that banner.
Bamiji noted, “First of all, we have to understand that the governor was elected on the platform of the party, and the people of Osun State invested their hope and trust in the governor through the platform of the PDP, and he has consistently said he is not leaving the PDP for APC.”
He further explained that the misunderstanding may stem from Adeleke’s bipartisan approach in working with the federal government, particularly in showing goodwill towards the presidency in the interest of national development. However, Bamiji insisted that this should not be misinterpreted as a signal of party defection.
The PDP spokesperson also suggested that the ongoing political crisis in the local governments of Osun State may be a deliberate tactic by the APC to pressure Governor Adeleke into switching political allegiance. He accused the opposition of engineering unrest in the state’s local government system as a form of political manipulation.
“But concerning joining APC, I’m not aware of that; the governor has never informed any of us who are his aides that he is joining the APC,” Bamiji stated. “Like our present situation in the state, the orchestrated crisis in our local governments might be another ploy by the APC to force the governor’s hand into their party.”
Despite the challenges, Bamiji reaffirmed Governor Adeleke’s loyalty to the PDP and described him as a leader driven by conscience and committed to serving the people under the mandate given to him by the electorate. He stressed that the governor has shown no sign of wavering in his allegiance to the PDP, even amid political distractions.
He concluded, “His Excellency is a man of conscience and he is ready to serve the people of the state under the platform of the party on which he won the election.”
The clarification comes at a time of heightened political tension in Osun State, where disputes over local government authority and party affiliations have stirred speculations and fueled narratives about possible realignments. Governor Adeleke, who took office in November 2022 after defeating the incumbent APC governor, has faced increasing political scrutiny as local political dynamics continue to shift.
Political observers suggest that such rumors are not uncommon in Nigerian politics, particularly when opposition parties seek to create uncertainty around a sitting governor’s loyalty or intentions. However, for now, the Osun PDP’s position remains unequivocal: Governor Adeleke is not defecting to the APC.
