Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has made waves in Nigeria’s political scene by jumping from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party, a move he says will enable him to continue his good work without being bogged down by PDP’s internal turmoil. As the 2026 governorship election draws closer, this switch positions Adeleke in a tight race against heavyweights from the APC, PDP, and other factions, all while he banks on his track record to carry him through.
The story began back in November when Adeleke first distanced himself from the PDP, the party that had supported his victories as senator for Osun West in 2017 and as governor in 2022. In a resignation letter dated November 4, 2025, and addressed to his ward chairman in Ede North Local Government Area, Adeleke pointed directly to the “current crisis of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party” as his reason for leaving. This letter only became public on December 1, right before PDP’s Osun primary, which ended up picking Adebayo Adedamola as their flagbearer amid the chaos. Adeleke had already purchased and submitted his forms for the primary between October 13 and 25, but the party’s infighting made it impossible to stay.
PDP’s national struggles have been well-documented, with factional fights splitting the party since mid-2025, pushing out governors, lawmakers, and other key allies. Adeleke’s exit marks him as the fifth governor to leave the party in 2025, following notable figures like Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. The party’s November 16 convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, only worsened matters, with Adeleke opting not to attend to avoid the drama. Osun Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, later explained that Adeleke chose not to make his departure public until after the event to avoid being seen as part of the disruption.
By November 6, Adeleke had quietly joined the Accord Party, but he waited until December 9 to make the announcement official at the Government House Banquet Hall in Osogbo. There, with national and state Accord leaders present, he laid out his plan to run for re-election on their platform, calling it a natural fit for his focus on welfare and good governance. The very next day, December 10, Accord’s screening committee cleared him as their sole aspirant after he passed all the necessary checks. The party’s primary election followed immediately, and out of 150 delegates, Adeleke secured 145 votes, with only five votes deemed invalid, making him the official candidate for the August 8, 2026, election. INEC officials monitored the entire process, praising it as peaceful and by the book.
Party chairman Maxwell Mgbudem presented Adeleke with the certificate of return, touting it as a sign of Accord’s commitment to fair play and predicting a major victory for him in 2026.
On December 10, sitting down for a live interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adeleke opened up about his decision to leave PDP. “It’s not true that I abandoned PDP. I love PDP, but I have to protect myself,” he said candidly. He emphasized that his move was all about safeguarding Osun’s progress so that his ongoing projects could continue without being hindered by the party’s constant infighting. “I have to make sure I protect my state because of the good work we’ve been doing, so that we can continue,” he added.
Despite his best efforts to mend things within PDP, the party’s internal crisis only deepened, with ongoing court cases and uncertainty over the direction of the party. Adeleke chose the Accord Party because their manifesto aligned with his vision of putting people first, and it offered a fresh start for the 2026 race.
While some worry that being with a lesser-known party like Accord may hurt his chances, Adeleke remains undeterred. He believes the people of Osun have become more discerning and can distinguish between real governance and empty promises. “Osun people are wiser. They know the difference between good governance and bad governance, and they have decided to toe the Imole path; it is me they are talking about,” he told the show. He views the party simply as a vehicle for his ideals, stressing that what matters most is the candidate’s record.
Under his leadership, Osun State has seen notable improvements. When his predecessor left office, state workers had gone months without pay, but Adeleke came in, cleared the backlogs, restored hope, and revitalized the state’s infrastructure. Osun’s national exam rankings improved dramatically, jumping from 33rd place to 7th under his tenure. He also reduced the state’s infrastructure gap from over 80 percent in 2022 to about 40 percent by 2025. “I came in, I brought hope, I brought light to Osun State. So, my records, first of all, will speak for themselves,” he boasted.
Adeleke has already outlined an upgraded five-point agenda for his next term, focusing on areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. And when it comes to facing federal pressure, he’s confident. Having won in 2022 as the underdog against the APC’s machinery, Adeleke is unshaken by the prospect of facing President Bola Tinubu’s influence. “Well, I believe our president is a democrat. He’s been in this position [opposition] before… He stood his ground, despite the fact that he was in opposition, and he still won. So why can’t I do that?” Adeleke said. “I was in the opposition when I won last time, and it’s not going to be different.”
Ultimately, he believes that the people will decide, and that they will choose continuity over returning to the hardships of the past. “The people will decide… because of my track record,” he concluded.
This defection has shaken up the 2026 race in Osun, where Adeleke now faces off against likely candidates from APC, PDP’s Adebayo Adedamola, and a coalition under the African Democratic Congress.
With the primaries wrapping up by INEC’s December 15 deadline, the stage is set for a battle where candidates will rely heavily on their records rather than party labels.
