The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has dismissed recent defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as inconsequential, insisting they pose no threat to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s chances of winning a second term in 2026.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the state PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, downplayed the impact of the defections, describing them as overhyped and lacking political weight. He affirmed that Governor Adeleke continues to enjoy broad support across the state due to his achievements in office.
“This is nothing but a storm in a teacup,” Bisi said. “Governor Adeleke remains the people’s choice. His performance speaks for itself.”
The comments follow growing speculation over the PDP’s electoral strength in light of high-profile exits, including that of Hon. Wole Oke, the member representing Oriade/Obokun in the House of Representatives, and former Senator Felix Ogunwale, who represented Osun Central from 2003 to 2007. Several political associates of Oke also followed suit.
The APC has seized on the development to criticize the PDP, suggesting the defections are evidence of internal cracks. Tensions further escalated when the three PDP senators from Osun recently declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s potential second-term bid, a move that sparked debate within the party.
Despite these dynamics, Bisi expressed strong confidence in Adeleke’s growing popularity, citing successes in infrastructure development and social programmes as key reasons voters will keep faith with the governor in the next election.
“These defections don’t shake us,” he said. “If we’re talking about real political shifts, look at Delta State, where both the governor and the PDP structure moved to the APC. That’s significant. What we’re seeing in Osun is minor and won’t affect our standing.”
He added that residents of Osun remain firmly behind Adeleke, driven by the visible improvements under his leadership.
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