The political landscape in Osun State is set for a seismic shift as Governor Ademola Adeleke inches closer to defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
For weeks, whispers of Adeleke’s imminent switch have reverberated across political circles. Now, the movement of key allies, including Senator Francis Fadahunsi, Senator Olubiyi Ajagunla, and Hon. Sanya Omirin, to the APC has all but confirmed the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres.
According to multiple insiders, these defections are not coincidental but part of a carefully orchestrated strategy to test the political waters and soften the ground for Adeleke’s grand entry into the APC.
“This is a well-rehearsed script,” a political source told our reporter. “The governor’s team is deliberately allowing his allies to defect one after the other. The narrative is being managed to make it appear as though there is a conflict within the PDP, but in reality, the governor is preparing to cross over to the APC under the best possible terms.”
Why Adeleke May Be Defecting
Analysts say Adeleke’s decision is driven by both political survival and strategic positioning ahead of the 2026 governorship race. With the PDP battling internal crises at both state and national levels, Adeleke is believed to be seeking stronger alliances to secure a second term.
“Governor Adeleke knows that the PDP is weakening, both structurally and financially,” said a senior party member, who requested anonymity. “He has been under immense pressure from APC power brokers who are promising him a soft landing and full support for his re-election if he joins their fold.”
Sources also suggest that Adeleke’s ongoing feud with some PDP leaders in Osun, coupled with the fallout from unresolved party primaries, has made his position within the party increasingly untenable.
The Abuja and Lagos Meetings
Further checks revealed that Adeleke has been shuttling between Abuja and Lagos in recent weeks, holding closed-door meetings with key APC leaders and strategists. The negotiations are said to involve securing guarantees over political control in Osun and assurances that his allies will be accommodated within the APC structure.
“Nothing is left to chance,” another insider said. “The APC is rolling out the red carpet because Adeleke’s defection will significantly weaken the PDP in the Southwest. For them, this is both a political and psychological victory ahead of 2027.”
Official Silence and Speculation
Efforts to obtain official confirmation have so far hit a wall. Calls to Kolapo Alimi, the Commissioner for Information, went unanswered, while the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, had his phone switched off.
The silence has only fuelled speculation, with political watchers predicting that Adeleke’s defection could be announced in a matter of weeks, if not days.
If Adeleke formally defects, it could trigger a wave of political realignments across Osun, with many PDP loyalists expected to follow him into the APC. Already, the defections of Fadahunsi, Ajagunla, and Omirin have sent shockwaves through the state chapter of the PDP, leaving the party scrambling to contain the fallout.
“This is not just about Osun politics,” a Lagos-based political strategist observed. “The APC is consolidating power ahead of 2027, and flipping a sitting PDP governor in the Southwest is a major step towards that goal.”
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