Why we blocked Gov Adeleke’s defection – Osun APC
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Governor Ademola Adeleke’s attempted defection to the party was rejected because he is a political liability who would damage the party’s reputation. For weeks, speculation had swirled over Adeleke’s possible move to the APC, with reports suggesting he made several unsuccessful efforts to […]
Ademola Adeleke
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Governor Ademola Adeleke’s attempted defection to the party was rejected because he is a political liability who would damage the party’s reputation.
For weeks, speculation had swirled over Adeleke’s possible move to the APC, with reports suggesting he made several unsuccessful efforts to meet President Bola Tinubu in a bid to secure endorsement for the switch. However, in a sharp turnaround, Adeleke and the Osun PDP leadership announced on Tuesday that they would remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing perceived hostility from APC members as a key reason.
Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, the state APC chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, accused the PDP leadership of misleading the public and claimed that Adeleke’s interest in the APC was driven by fear of defeat in the 2026 governorship election.
“We state, first of all, that the highly informed Osun public, who are aware that it was the fear of impending 2026 election defeat that motivated the governor to desperately seek asylum in our party for his political survival, are excited about the measured treatment meted to him and his desperate party men,” Lawal said.
He described the Osun PDP as a “leprous house,” alleging that it had been abandoned by credible politicians since 2023 due to corruption and poor governance.
He characterised Adeleke’s attempted defection as “deceptive and self-serving,” claiming it was aimed at using the APC as a safe haven ahead of the next election.
“Osun citizens are tired of Governor Adeleke and cannot wait to reject him at the poll. Little wonder the masses trooped out in their thousands yesterday in Osogbo and across the state to celebrate the roadblocks to his unholy efforts to migrate to the APC,” Lawal said.