Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party has introduced a fresh wave of uncertainty into the state’s 2026 governorship race, this newspaper has learnt.
Political stakeholders in the state, reacting to his exit amid ongoing internal disputes within the PDP, said the development could further complicate projections ahead of the election.
“The election will be keenly contested because the internal division in the PDP which forced him out of the party means that he will look for another party to compete, and this will have impact on his campaign structure, support base among others,” a political stakeholder in Osun told newspaper.
It was also gathered that Adeleke may not be considering the All Progressives Congress (APC) as his next political destination, as he neither picked up nor submitted the party’s governorship nomination form before the December 1 deadline.
“He didn’t pick up the party’s form nor submit same, so there is no way that he will join APC and become the party’s candidate; it is almost certain that he won’t be joining the party,” an APC chieftain who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter told this newspaper.
Sources also disclosed that the African Democratic Congress has already settled on Najeem Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly and an ally of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as its consensus governorship candidate, making Adeleke’s entry into the party unlikely.
“ADC has chosen Najeem Salaam as their consensus candidate for the 2026 governorship elections, so Adeleke will not consider joining them because of the already decided candidature within the echoleon,” a political source said.
Another stakeholder noted that the Saraki factor may also influence Adeleke’s next steps.
According to the stakeholder, Bukola Saraki, a former Senate President of Nigeria, is a known close ally of Governor Adeleke.
Saraki, however, has distanced himself from the ADC, even dismissing claims linking him to the party after rumours circulated that Bolaji Abdullahi’s involvement as the ADC’s spokesperson was at his instigation.
The stakeholder also stated that Saraki who is a major influence was clear about his position on the PDP convention held in Oyo State under the watch of Governor Seyi Makinde.
“You would see that Saraki called for caretaker committee to resolve the party’s crisis, he did not attend the convention, Adeleke also snubbed the convention. They have been close allies and you can suggest steps of Adeleke by observing Saraki,” the stakeholder told this newspaper.
Findings show that the governor is weighing Accord Party or the All Progressives Grand Alliance as his possible alternatives.
Already, Accord Party chairman, Victor Akande, has promised to welcome Adeleke into the party should be decide to join.
“The issue of Governor Adeleke to me is still a rumour. As the state chairman, I have never met with anybody in government about that. We are not the only party they are talking about in terms of Adeleke’s defection, but if he comes to our party, we will welcome him wholeheartedly,” Akande was quoted by The PUNCH as saying.
He added, “The political party door is always open. People are free to come in and also free to leave at any time they feel like. If he comes, we will give him a waiver to contest like every other person who may have interest in coming.
“There is a standing waiver already in the party. For now, two people have shown interest in contesting under our party, although they have not committed financially.”
Earlier, this newspaper reported that Adeleke resigned his membership of the PDP, citing unending turmoil within the party’s national leadership.
According to a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman of Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde, in Ede North Local Government Area, the governor formally withdrew from the party on November 4, 2025.
In the letter, Adeleke attributed his decision to the crisis at the national level.
“Due to the current crisis within the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my membership of the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect,” the letter read.
Adeleke, who rose to political prominence through the PDP, expressed gratitude for the platform that enabled his election as Senator representing Osun West and later as governor.
“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party,” he stated.
