The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has announced its decision to support Governor Ademola Adeleke’s second-term ambition, even though he is no longer a member of the party.
Chairman of the PDP in the state, Sunday Bisi, disclosed that the party’s entire structure would work for Adeleke’s re-election in the August 8, 2026, governorship election, which he will contest on the platform of the Accord Party.
Governor Adeleke recently resigned from the PDP and secured the Accord Party’s governorship ticket ahead of the poll.
Speaking in an interview in Osogbo, Bisi clarified that he had not defected from the PDP and would not be joining the governor in his new party.
He maintained that he remains the state chairman of the PDP, with his tenure running until 2027.
According to him, the party has already endorsed Adeleke for a second term, stressing that the governor enjoys the backing of PDP stakeholders across the state.
“I have not decamped to any political party. I am still the PDP chairman in Osun State, and my tenure subsists till 2027.”
“However, the entire PDP structure in Osun is solidly behind Governor Ademola Adeleke. We have endorsed him for a second term, and we will ensure he wins convincingly,” Bisi said.
When asked about the PDP’s governorship candidate, Adebayo Adedamola (FRYO), Bisi played down his candidacy, insisting that the party’s focus was on securing Adeleke’s victory under the Accord Party platform.
Reacting to concerns that his position could be viewed as anti-party activity, Bisi dismissed such fears, arguing that similar political alignments had occurred in the past without sanctions.
“There is nothing like anti-party in what we are doing. This is not new in Nigerian politics.”
“There have been instances where parties supported candidates from other platforms without issues. So, we are not doing anything unusual,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has distanced himself from Adeleke’s defection, reaffirming his loyalty to the PDP.
Oyinlola spoke at the second matriculation ceremony of Alolade Oyinlola College of Health Sciences and Information Technology in Okuku, where about 90 students were admitted.
He stated that he has no intention of leaving the PDP, adding that Adeleke’s political decision would not influence his own stance.
“I will not leave the PDP unless it goes into extinction. I am not following Demola to Accord. At my age, I cannot be pushed around. I am gradually withdrawing from active politics. I will be 75 in February,” he said.
