EXCLUSIVE: How PDP crisis rendered Adeleke helpless, moves to join, get APC ticket for Osun 2026 collapsed
However, a presidential source revealed that the defection was never formally tabled at the presidency.
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EXCLUSIVE: How PDP crisis rendered Adeleke helpless, moves to join, get APC ticket for Osun 2026 collapsed
Governor Ademola Adeleke’s speculated defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2026 Osun gubernatorial election appears to have collapsed, following internal resistance, missteps, and an ongoing leadership crisis within the PDP.
Verifiable information obtained by NewsClick Nigeria confirms that Governor Adeleke’s plans to switch parties have hit a brick wall, despite previous denials from his media team dismissing the story as “fake news.”
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Adeleke, who was elected governor in 2022 after defeating then-incumbent APC governor Gboyega Oyetola, is now reportedly stuck in the middle of deepening intra-party divisions at the PDP national level. Sources within the presidency and Osun APC confirm that Adeleke had indeed initiated talks with key APC figures, largely outside his home base, seeking support from governors in the South-West rather than negotiating with the state chapter of the party.
However, a presidential source revealed that the defection was never formally tabled at the presidency.
“I think some smart allies at the Villa or even at the APC national headquarters are giving him fake assurance that all is well with his planned move to the APC. Adeleke’s efforts to decamp were never on the table in the Presidency,” the source said.
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An Osun APC insider also stated that Adeleke’s defection attempt, even if not finalized, has already cost him public goodwill.
“Whether or not Adeleke joins the APC, the mere thought of it has already tainted his credibility. Many now see him as just another typical politician without principles,” the source added.
Fallout and Financial Trouble Loom
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The aftermath of the failed defection may bring even more challenges for the Governor. According to a reliable source familiar with the state’s financial outlook, Adeleke’s administration could soon face insolvency if the federal government does not release local government funds by August.
This financial strain is compounded by the continuing standoff at the local council level, where employees under the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have abandoned their posts amid ongoing disputes between APC and PDP loyalists over control of the councils.
Poorly Managed Strategy
Diran Odeyemi, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, criticized the Governor’s handling of the defection process, describing it as clumsy and politically damaging.
“When rumours emerged that Governor Adeleke was defecting, both PDP and APC responded with mixed feelings. But the talk that President Tinubu was ‘begging’ him to join the APC hurt the whole process,” Odeyemi noted in a social media post.
“The defection of an incumbent governor is not new. But the public presentation and political narrative were so poorly managed that it left a bad taste. Even if PBAT (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu) was involved, must it be shouted in the market square?”
He suggested that the move may have reached a dead end, hinting that scheduled events for July 23 related to a potential declaration may now serve other political purposes.
Two PDP Senators Resign
Amid the growing uncertainty, the PDP in Osun State has suffered fresh blows with the resignation of two of its senators. Senators Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East) and Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central) have officially dumped the party, citing irreconcilable internal disputes and legal battles.
Fadahunsi, in a letter dated July 12 and addressed to the PDP Ward 4 Chairman in Obokun Local Government Area, pointed to the unresolved crises that have rocked the party since the 2023 general elections.
“After consultation with my associates, I’ve concluded that the PDP no longer serves our collective interest,” Fadahunsi said.
Fadeyi, echoing similar sentiments in his resignation letter to the Ward 3 Chairman in Oke-Ejigbo, blamed “irreparable divisions and factionalism” within the party.
Both lawmakers have yet to announce their next political destination.
What Lies Ahead?
Governor Adeleke’s political future now hangs in the balance. With mounting defections from his party, waning trust from constituents, and a failed attempt to join the APC, analysts say he faces an uphill battle heading into 2026.
