Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has dismissed fresh speculations suggesting he is planning to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the report as “a calculated attempt by those afraid of his soaring acceptability to create confusion and uncertainty in the minds of the people of Osun State.”
Rumours of Adeleke’s possible defection have trailed his administration in recent months. At different times, he was said to be considering joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), with suggestions that he and some PDP leaders had even declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. The governor, however, later maintained that certain forces prevented him from joining the APC and restated his resolve to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The latest claims linked Adeleke to the ADC amid the ongoing tussle for control of the PDP’s national leadership. But Rasheed insisted the governor has no such plans.
> “Governor Adeleke remains committed to the PDP and has no plan whatsoever to join the ADC or any party for that matter. His focus is on delivering the dividends of democracy to Osun people who resoundingly gave him their mandate,” the statement read.
The spokesperson added that Adeleke and PDP leaders in the state are concentrating on strengthening party structures ahead of next year’s elections.
The statement also cautioned the public to disregard “misinformation from political opponents rattled by the governor’s goodwill” and instead mobilise support for his re-election bid.
Meanwhile, the Osun PDP has faced waves of defections in recent months, with key figures including Wole Oke, a House of Representatives member, as well as Senators Adenigba Fadahunsi (Osun East) and Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), defecting to the APC. Other lawmakers, such as Taofeek Ajilesoro and Olusanya Ominrin, also joined the ruling party, citing leadership crises in the PDP and the need to align with President Tinubu.
