Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has rejected claims that he abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after defecting to the Accord Party, insisting the deepening crisis within the PDP left him with no viable path to seek re‑election in 2026.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Adeleke said he remained fond of the PDP but was compelled to find a more stable political platform. He is now the Accord Party’s confirmed candidate for the August 2026 governorship election.
“I love PDP, but with all the crises going on… I did my best, I tried, but everything seems to be falling apart every day,” he said. “As a reasonable person, I had to make a decision and ask, ‘Where do I go from here?’ That is why I decided to go to the Accord Party. It’s not true that I abandoned PDP.”
Adeleke said his move was driven by a need to “protect myself and protect my state” to ensure continuity of his administration’s work.
The governor also argued that party affiliation would play a limited role in the 2026 election, expressing confidence that Osun voters would judge candidates based on performance rather than political labels.
“Osun people are wise—they don’t judge you based on your party; they judge the person,” he said. “Within three years, I know what we have achieved in our government, so it is about the person.”
Adeleke revealed that he formally joined the Accord Party on November 6, 2025, following weeks of consultations with stakeholders and opinion leaders. His defection became public on Tuesday.
A day later, the Accord Party confirmed him as its governorship candidate. The Chairman of the Screening Committee and National Organising Secretary, Ibe Thankgod, said Adeleke met all requirements and was cleared as the party’s sole aspirant.
