The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in Osun State has declared its unwavering backing for Governor Ademola Adeleke, amidst escalating speculation that he might defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2026 governorship election.
This development comes weeks after Governors Sherrif Oborevwori of Delta State and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State left the PDP for the APC.
Recent rumors suggest Governor Adeleke, elected on the PDP platform in 2022, is considering a switch to the APC, a move that could drastically alter Osun’s political landscape.
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In a statement issued Saturday in Osogbo, the state capital, the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed that the state PDP caucus expressed solidarity with Adeleke during a strategic meeting held on Thursday.
The caucus reportedly passed a vote of confidence in the governor and urged him to continue his extensive consultations regarding his political future.
“The caucus commended the governor’s performance in office, describing his leadership style as inclusive, pragmatic, and people-oriented,” Rasheed stated.
A communiqué from the meeting affirmed the caucus’s commitment to “follow Governor Adeleke wherever he goes,” underscoring his significant political influence within the party’s state structure.
The meeting, held at the Government House in Osogbo, saw wide attendance from the party’s leadership, including members of the National and State Assemblies, the State Executive Council, party executives, the Special Advisers’ Forum, the PDP Elders Caucus, and the leadership of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state.
Governor Adeleke, known for his populist appeal and flamboyant personality, took office in November 2022 after defeating the then-incumbent APC Governor Gboyega Oyetola in a closely contested election.
His victory marked a crucial return for the PDP in Osun, a state historically prone to shifting allegiances between the major parties.
Hailing from the influential Adeleke political dynasty, the governor has since cultivated a reformist image, implementing projects in infrastructure, education, health, and digital governance.
His recent political maneuvers, including engagements with APC figures and public displays of camaraderie with top federal officials, have fueled rumors of a potential political realignment before the 2026 election.
Osun State politics remains fiercely competitive, with fluid political loyalties often shaped by national dynamics.
Any shift by Adeleke, who maintains strong grassroots support, would likely redraw the political battle lines and force a strategic reconfiguration for parties heading into the next electoral cycle.
While Rasheed confirmed Governor Adeleke’s ongoing broad consultations about his political direction, the PDP caucus’s open-ended pledge of allegiance suggests the governor holds substantial sway over the party’s state structure.
Observers believe that a defection, if it materializes, could trigger a chain reaction within Osun’s PDP and potentially impact the party’s national cohesion as it navigates internal divisions and external pressures leading up to 2027.
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