Despite the fact that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke recently debunked widespread rumours suggesting he is set to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the speculation has been reignited as members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and their opposition counterparts in the APC have been trading tackles.
The fresh defection rumours, which resurfaced on Wednesday evening, have sparked tense debates among supporters of the governor and those loyal to Adeleke’s predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola.
Oyetola, the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, is regarded as the leader of the APC in Osun State.
While some aides of Governor Adeleke have taken to their social media pages to share posts suggesting the possibility of Adeleke contesting his second-term bid under the platform of the APC, those within Oyetola’s camp kicked against the intentions, saying the governor would never be welcomed into the opposition party.
Some aides of Adeleke mocked APC members who have been vociferous in criticising Adeleke in messages shared on social media, saying they would soon bow to worship Adeleke once he jumps ship into the APC and becomes its leader.
One of them, in a post shared on Facebook and sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, said, “The man (Adeleke) you (APC chieftains and members) have been criticising will soon be Oyetola’s leader, and you will all scream Imole till 2030.”
Many of these rumour mongers have been sharing pictures of the recent visit by Adeleke, alongside his older brother, Deji Adeleke, and musician David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to President Bola Tinubu.
They claimed that the defection plan was sealed during the meeting and that it was an agreement for Adeleke to join the APC, complete his second term, and then reciprocate by supporting the second-term agenda of Tinubu in 2027.
However, some APC loyalists reacted to the posts, saying Adeleke could only join “APC Aisu chapter,” and that “failure will never be allowed to join our party.”
Meanwhile, some PDP members disagreed with the insinuation, noting that it would not be fair on party members if the governor dumps it for the APC, which has been critical of his governance.
A few days ago, Governor Adeleke reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the defection claims as false, unfounded, and politically motivated, urging the public to disregard what he described as fake news.
“I assure the good people of Osun that I remain part and parcel of the PDP family. I am not defecting to any party,” Governor Adeleke said.
He reiterated his commitment to implementing his administration’s five-point agenda, promising to intensify efforts in delivering good governance and democratic dividends to the people of Osun State.
Governor Adeleke’s political career has been one of twists and turns. He entered politics in 2017, shortly after the death of his brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Osun State’s first civilian governor.
At the time, Ademola Adeleke defected from the APC to the PDP to contest and eventually win the Osun West Senatorial bye-election, succeeding his late brother in the Senate.
In 2018, he contested for governor under the PDP but lost to Gboyega Oyetola of the APC in a controversial election marred by vote suppression and allegations of irregularities.
Undeterred, Governor Adeleke launched another gubernatorial bid in 2022. This time, he defeated incumbent Governor Oyetola in a tightly contested race, riding on popular support, particularly among youths and grassroots voters.
Governor Adeleke’s latest denial comes as political tension builds ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election, in which he is widely expected to seek re-election. His performance in office and loyalty to the PDP will likely shape both internal party dynamics and his poll prospects.
