Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has finalized arrangements to seek re-election under the platform of the Accord Party (AP) after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a resignation letter announcing his departure, Governor Adeleke cited ongoing instability within the PDP’s national leadership as the primary reason for his exit.
“Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party, I hereby resign my membership of the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect,” Adeleke wrote.
Despite leaving the party, the governor expressed gratitude for the political opportunities the PDP had afforded him throughout his career.
“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party,” he stated.
Sources close to the development revealed to The Sun that Adeleke has secured an agreement with the leadership of the Accord Party and is preparing to make a formal public announcement.
A senior PDP member, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that official communication regarding the defection is imminent.
“It may be today or tomorrow, all I know is that the Accord Party has agreed to cede the governorship ticket to Adeleke, and the announcement will be made very soon,” the source disclosed.
The move follows earlier comments by former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who had hinted at the possibility of joining the Accord Party during a radio interview.
Oyinlola, who has been politically aligned with Adeleke, described AP as a credible platform while ruling out joining the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
“My moving with Adeleke to another party will depend on the party we are joining. If it is a party that I don’t believe in, I will excuse myself,” Oyinlola said.
“If we said we are going to APGA, we will be entering a one-chance. The Accord party is even fair. I know how the Accord party was formed and the founder. Olusegun Obasanjo was the one who formed the Accord Party.”
An insider within the Accord Party confirmed to The Sun that negotiations with Governor Adeleke had been concluded before his resignation from the PDP.
“I can confirm to you that party leaders have agreed to give him the governorship ticket. Everything has been sealed unless he changes his mind,” the AP source revealed.
“I may not be authoritative about the date of his official announcement, but it would be done on or before December 10.”
Governor Adeleke’s defection represents a significant political realignment in Osun State ahead of the next gubernatorial election. His departure from the PDP also reflects the deepening internal crisis within the opposition party, which has seen several prominent members exit in recent months.
The Accord Party, though relatively smaller compared to Nigeria’s major political parties, has positioned itself as an alternative platform for politicians seeking to distance themselves from the APC and PDP.
Political analysts suggest that Adeleke’s entry into the AP could potentially boost the party’s profile and electoral prospects in Osun State, given his incumbency advantage and political influence in the region.
As of press time, neither the PDP nor the Accord Party had issued official statements regarding the defection.
