Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State is reportedly leaning towards the Accord Party as his platform for the June 2026 governorship election, sources close to his camp have told Daily Trust.

The development comes amid growing uncertainty over his position within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and failed attempts to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Currently in the United States for what sources described as medical reasons, Adeleke’s return is expected to clarify his political future. With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) setting a December 15 deadline for party primaries, the governor now faces a limited window to determine the platform on which he will pursue his re-election bid.

SPONSOR AD

Governor Adeleke won the 2022 Osun State governorship election on the platform of the PDP, defeating the incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the APC in a tightly contested race. His victory was largely credited to his strong grassroots appeal, particularly among younger voters, as well as support from traditional and local political networks across the state. Behind the scenes, the fallout between Oyetola and his predecessor, then Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, reportedly influenced the outcome, while some analysts also point to the APC’s failure to secure federal backing—allegedly due to the perceived marginalisation of then-presidential aspirant Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose influence is considered significant in Osun, which is regarded as his ancestral home.

The election was closely fought, with Adeleke securing a narrow margin of victory. The results were later upheld by the courts after the APC challenged them, citing alleged irregularities. His win marked a major political shift in Osun, ending the APC’s hold on the state since the previous election cycle.

Despite earlier picking up the nomination and expression of interest forms of the PDP, Adeleke’s tilt towards the Accord Party ahead of his re-election bid thus reflects a calculated response to the complex political landscape in Osun.

At the national level, the PDP is embroiled in a fierce leadership battle between two factions. The first group is loyal to newly elected National Chairman Tanimu Turaki and supported by Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi. This faction recently held a convention in Ibadan, asserting control of the party and announcing the removal of opponents. Adeleke’s absence from the convention underscored the precariousness of his position.

Across the divide is the Wike faction, aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Anyanwu has rejected his removal, insisting he remains the lawful National Secretary, and the Turaki-led faction has no authority to sack him. The conflict exploded on 18 November, when both camps clashed at the party’s national secretariat, prompting security operatives to fire teargas.

The fallout has intensified confusion within Osun’s PDP chapter and heightened risks for Adeleke’s political future if a resolution is not reached soon.

Failed APC, ADC negotiations

Before considering the Accord Party, Adeleke reportedly explored joining the APC. Sources familiar with the discussions said he was close to crossing over, with a power-sharing arrangement drafted in advance. Of Osun’s nine House of Representatives seats, Adeleke was to nominate four, while the APC bloc would take the remaining five. He was also expected to produce the Chief of Staff, among other key positions.

“Everything was set for his defection. But twenty-four hours before his public declaration, while he was already in Abuja to meet the president and seal the deal, some powerful presidential aides working with former Governor Oyetola and the APC structure in the state shut the door against him. With that resistance, the plan collapsed, and Adeleke quietly returned to Osogbo,” one insider told Daily Trust.

Prior to the failed attempt, Adeleke was asked to end his relationship with former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola, who had actively supported him during the 2022 governorship election. Aregbesola later fell out with the APC and became openly critical of the party’s leadership. APC power brokers feared that an Adeleke-Aregbesola alliance would be too strong to confront in 2026.

To comply, Adeleke publicly distanced himself from Aregbesola, issuing a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, accusing the former minister of mismanaging civil servants’ welfare, introducing the controversial half-salary policy, misusing contributory pension funds, and withholding cooperative deductions. Adeleke described Aregbesola’s boast of dislodging his administration in 2026 as “a symptom of a troubled mind battling his benefactor and haunted by the suffering he inflicted on millions of Osun people through his evil policies and programmes.”

Despite this public distancing, the APC structure, supported by key presidential appointees, continued to block Adeleke’s entry, leaving him politically cornered.

To break the deadlock, Adeleke and his team reportedly considered the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which now has Aregbesola as its national secretary, as a fallback option. Reports suggested that Nasir El-Rufai approached former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on behalf of Aregbesola to negotiate Adeleke’s terms, including the positions of deputy governor and chief of staff. Adeleke deemed the demands excessive, and talks collapsed again.

Accord Party emerges as a viable option

Recent developments indicate that Adeleke has finally settled on the Accord Party as his likely platform for the 2026 election. Several members of his political camp confirmed the move, and former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, widely regarded as Adeleke’s political mentor, gave credence to the development in an interview on Osogbo’s Rave FM within the week.

Speaking in Yoruba, Oyinlola said, “At a time we considered going to the APC, but I said I would not follow them because I know that party well. My position has not changed. The APC fails to honour promises. As secretary of the New PDP during the formation of the APC, I didn’t get anything for my efforts. My decision to move with Adeleke depends on the party we choose. If it’s a party I do not believe in, I will not join. APGA would be a one-shot chance. The Accord Party is a fair option because I know how it was formed and its founder, Olusegun Obasanjo. I was also part of those in the formation of the African Democratic Congress, but it failed to meet expectations despite having prominent politicians and still has lingering issues. When the governor returns this week, we will discuss and tell the people of Osun of our decision.”

APC, PDP share perspectives as Adeleke plays a waiting game

On the issue, the APC Director of Media and Information in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, told Daily Trust that rejecting Adeleke’s entry into the party was aimed at fostering and preserving peace.

“Our rejection of Governor Adeleke was because we knew that there was no way he could add value to our party but rather lead it to disintegration. What about those who have been in the party since spending their time and resources? His coming would cause disaffection and disharmony,” Olabisi said.

He added, “We already have a system of operations, and joining the party at that time was like trying to climb a tree from the top. All politics is local. What we stand to lose with his coming is far greater than what we stand to gain. APC is well positioned in Osun State without necessarily bringing in any liability. Any of the 13 governorship aspirants can win the election for the party. Adeleke will never be a threat because two PDP senators and three powerful House of Representatives members have joined us, including former BoT members who helped him get elected but are now no longer with him. The PDP has disintegrated.”

Meanwhile, the state PDP chairman, Bisi Sunday, expressed confidence that the party would overcome the crisis.

“We are on the same page with the government on this issue, and there is no problem. The deadline for party primaries is December 15, and we are still in November. We will see how it goes. Don’t forget a day in politics is a very long time. When we get to the river, we will cross the bridge,” he said.

Sunday emphasised the party’s resilience, adding: “PDP remains a party that has not changed its name from inception. Our internal issues will be resolved sooner rather than later. The APC can continue to celebrate but will be shocked to see us coming out stronger from this issue. We still have time. PDP will survive, I can assure you, even though the APC are behind the crisis.”

He urged the people of the state to continue supporting the government: “Whatever happens, we want to see the people of Osun behind us, and with that we can move mountains. Power is from God, and the people are the repositories of it. We are going to win the next election by God’s grace, and what we have done for the people in just three years surpasses the 12 years of the APC.”

However, Adeleke’s spokesperson, Mallam Rasheed Olawale, when contacted, said, “The governor will speak on the issue at the right time.”

Expert analysis and political implications

An associate professor of Political Science at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Lanre Sikiru Nurudeen, said that former Governor Oyetola’s decision not to join the race may have been influenced by advice from the President to create a pathway for Adeleke.

The academic emphasised that the national PDP crisis has left members in confusion, with uncertainty over which faction INEC will recognise. “It would be risky or political suicide for any serious candidate in Osun to rely on the party under the current circumstances,” he said.

Nurudeen said Adeleke now has limited options: “The governor must either seek another political platform or attempt to reconcile with former Minister Rauf Aregbesola, a move he described as politically delicate. Adeleke is in a tight corner, and the coming weeks will determine how he navigates the situation.”

He added that the President may still intervene, noting, “The APC would not want to create any opening for an alliance between Adeleke and Aregbesola, given the latter’s approach to politics. If the people of Osun feel Adeleke has performed very well, the question of platform may not really matter.”