Adeleke Faces Turbulent Choice as he considers Accord or APGA for his 2026 re-election amid deepening PDP crisis in Osun.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on Sunday faced renewed scrutiny over his political future as senior administration insiders confirmed that he is weighing a possible defection from the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
The development comes as Adeleke Faces Turbulent Choice between the Accord Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance while tensions deepen within the Osun PDP.
Officials close to the governor, who spoke in Osogbo on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to address the press, said strong lobbying from influential figures inside APGA has made the party a leading option.
One official noted that APGA supporters had shown exceptional commitment to securing Adeleke’s candidacy and meeting the Independent National Electoral Commission’s December deadline for primaries and submission of candidate names.
Another top government source, however, insisted that Accord may ultimately become Adeleke’s preferred platform, citing strategic ballot advantages and the party’s readiness to receive him. The source explained that Accord’s top placement on the ballot paper could make voter identification easier for supporters should the governor switch allegiances.
The Osun PDP leadership publicly dismissed speculation surrounding the governor’s departure. The party’s Director of Media, Oladele Bamiji, said Adeleke remains its undisputed leader in the state and has given no formal indication of leaving. Bamiji added that decisions by lawmakers or other officials would depend on future political developments.
Legal experts in the state have raised concerns about the technical hurdles Adeleke could face should he defect close to the election cycle.
Osogbo-based lawyer Kayode Adebisi explained that most political parties require at least six months of membership before a governorship nomination can be granted.
He clarified, however, that national party executives retain the power to issue waivers, describing such exemptions as common and citing the case of former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki as a precedent.
The growing uncertainty has injected fresh suspense into Osun’s political landscape as party strategists, supporters and potential defectors await a definitive decision from the governor.
For now, Adeleke has remained silent, leaving both allies and opponents watching closely for his next move.
