With Gov. ADELEKE’s Deal With Pres. TINUBU
There has been unrest in the political landscape, particularly among the All Progressives Congress in Osun State (APC) and the Omoluabi Progressives group, which is led by the former Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. This discontent follows rumors of a deal between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke regarding the 2026 gubernatorial elections and other electoral matters in the state.
Recently, it was alleged that Governor Adeleke and his team struck a deal with the President in France. The aim of this deal is to facilitate the merger of the Osun PDP into the APC. While it may not necessarily require Adeleke to leave his party, it is expected that he will support the President in his bid for a second term in 2027.
This news has deeply upset some APC aspirants vying for Governor Adeleke’s position, including the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and Senator Ajibola Bashiru from Osun Central. The implication of this deal is that they may now have to work with the current governor to ensure he secures the second-term ticket for the next guber election in 2026.
Both Senator Bashiru and the former governor have been positioning themselves and mobilizing support to claim the party ticket. However, the revelation of Governor Adeleke’s alliance with the President has left both camps disheartened.
This news is unsettling their camps. Not only them. Others who have one ambition or the other are not pleased with the proposed merger. It is believed that will shape the entire political landscape in the state.
One APC chieftain, who is also a former House of Representatives aspirant, remarked, “Our party did not anticipate this in any form. We have about five candidates who have shown interest in running under the APC platform. As you know, we have an APC national leader. We are not giving up just yet, as there haven’t been any concrete discussions, but it appears the President may wish to align with the current administration, provided they meet the necessary requirements. It seems it will be a 50/50 split between the APC and PDP in the state. We are keeping our fingers crossed.”
Currently, all activities are on hold, particularly for those aspiring for the top seat in the state. Alongside the turmoil within the Osun APC, the situation concerning the Omoluabi Progressives group is equally perplexing. Members of this group have expressed concern about their future if the PDP and APC form a strong alliance before next year’s elections. Previously, Aregbesola’s Omoluabi Progressives were considering their options, but they now find themselves isolated if the proposed alignment between the two major political parties goes ahead.
An aspirant eyeing a seat in the House of Representatives, Mr. Boye Elijah, expressed his frustration over the proposed merger. He mentioned that he has been told to wait until 2027, but the gubernatorial election is set for 2026. “I’m not sure of my fate now,” he said. “Our party, the APC, has many members in similar situations. How do we resolve this? We have invested heavily in this cause.
The major issue now is determining who will lead and coordinate the two groups. However, we understand that this will ultimately benefit the president. The same concerns apply to those in the PDP as well. Furthermore, the Osun State Progressives, led by Aregbe, who supported Governor Adeleke in the last election, are now feeling uneasy about the situation.”
Ogbeni Rauf, the leader of the Omoluabi Progressives, is reportedly displeased, feeling that his group, as a third force, could potentially displace both the PDP and APC to produce the next governor of the state. Now, he must devise a strategy to ensure his group remains relevant in the face of this potential alliance.
In fact, some sources indicate that members of the Omoluabi Progressives may consider defecting to the APC due to concerns about their future prospects.
In response to the recent news of a potential collaboration between the APC and PDP in Osun, the Osun Leaders of Thought (OLT) have urged Governor Ademola Adeleke not to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Instead, they advise him to fully support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The group, represented by Comrade Adesola Adigun, Chief of Public Affairs, offers several reasons for this stance. Firstly, they emphasize that Governor Adeleke has a strong brand with considerable street credibility and command in Osun’s electoral landscape. His support is seen as crucial for the President’s success in Osun, and any dilution of his influence should be avoided.
Acknowledging growing pressures both locally and from afar to persuade the governor to switch to the APC, the OLT calls this move ill-advised. They argue that the governor should remain with the PDP and continue the positive work he is doing for the people of Osun State.
Furthermore, they insist that the governor must support the re-election of President Tinubu, stating that since Osun is the President’s ancestral state, it is a duty to back their son regardless of the circumstances. They express that for the governor to defect to the APC would be counterproductive, complicating matters for both the President and the governor and distracting them from their respective roles.
Posters have appeared across the state featuring the faces of President Tinubu and Governor Adeleke, with some billboards displaying the slogan “Continuity of Progress.” These posters are attributed to the Osun Leaders of Thought. It appears that preparations might be underway for the Governor to join the APC, as he and other PDP governors from various states are also contemplating defection. Nevertheless, he may still choose to remain in the PDP and work for President Tinubu.
The PDP faithful in Osun are particularly concerned about significant defections in Delta State and the recent resignation of Oluwole Oke, the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in the House of Representatives. Oke, a fifth-term legislator, has had conflicts with the PDP leadership in Osun, leading to division within his constituency. In a letter dated April 16, addressed to the Ward 7 Chairman of the party in the Obokun local government area (LGA), Oke explained that his decision to resign from the PDP came after consulting with his constituents. While he did not explicitly indicate plans to join another party, speculation about his potential move to the ruling APC has intensified concerns that Adeleke might be considering a similar transition.
– Isaac Abimbade
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