The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in Osun State has declared its unwavering support for Governor Ademola Adeleke, even as speculation intensifies over his potential defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2026 governorship election in the state.
The development came weeks after Governor Sherrif Obovrevwori of Delta and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom dumped the PDP for the APC.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that rumours have been swirling in recent weeks suggesting that Mr Adeleke, who was elected on the PDP platform in 2022, is considering a move to the APC — a shift that could dramatically alter the political landscape in Osun.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Osogbo, the state capital, the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the PDP caucus in the state expressed solidarity with Mr Adeleke during a strategic meeting held on Thursday. The caucus reportedly passed a vote of confidence in the governor and urged him to continue wide-ranging consultations on his next political move.
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“The caucus commended the governor’s performance in office, describing his leadership style as inclusive, pragmatic, and people-oriented,” Mr Rasheed said.
He added that a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting affirmed the caucus’s readiness to “follow Governor Adeleke wherever he goes,” underscoring the strength of his political influence within the party structure.
The meeting, held at the Government House in Osogbo, was attended by a broad spectrum of 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.
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Governor Adeleke, known for his populist appeal and flamboyant personality, assumed office in November 2022 after defeating then-incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the APC in a tightly contested election. His victory marked a significant comeback for the PDP in Osun, a state that has traditionally swung between both major parties.
The governor, who hails from the influential Adeleke political dynasty, has since maintained a reformist image, rolling out projects in infrastructure, education, health, and digital governance. His recent political moves, including overtures to APC figures and public camaraderie with top federal officials, have fueled rumours of a possible realignment ahead of the 2026 election.
Osun State politics remains highly competitive, with political loyalties fluid and often shaped by national dynamics. Any shift by Adeleke — whose grassroots support remains robust — would likely redraw the battle lines and force a reconfiguration of party strategies leading into the next electoral cycle.
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While Mr Rasheed confirmed that Governor Adeleke is still consulting widely on his future political direction, the PDP caucus’s open-ended pledge of allegiance suggests the governor holds substantial sway over the direction of the party’s structure in the state.
Observers say a defection, if it materialises, could trigger a chain reaction within Osun’s PDP and potentially impact the party’s national cohesion as it battles internal divisions and external pressures ahead of 2027.
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