Osun APC: We rejected Adeleke’s defection because he’s a liability

The Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says Ademola Adeleke, the state governor, was denied entry into the party because he is “a liability”.

For the past few weeks, speculations have been swirling about Adeleke’s alleged plans to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.

On Monday, the Osun state caucus of the PDP endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027 and asked Adeleke to remain in the party to seek a second term in 2026.

The PDP leaders also said the speculation about Adeleke defecting to the APC “did not originate from the governor” and was not supported by most APC members.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, Tajudeen Lawal, chairman of Osun APC, said Adeleke was seeking “political refuge” in the party ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

Lawal said the governor was quickly identified as “a Trojan horse” whose defection would damage the APC’s reputation.

He also accused the leadership caucus of the PDP in the state of misleading the public by claiming Adeleke was resisted by the APC.

“The Osun public is aware that the governor sought refuge in the APC out of fear of defeat in 2026,” Lawal said.

“The PDP has become a leprous house, deserted by well-meaning politicians. What’s left are political dregs with no electoral value.”

The Osun APC chair said the PDP in the state lost credibility after 2023 and had since become “a private property of the Adeleke dynasty”.

“Bright minds and people with good names to protect, who could not tolerate the deceit, shenanigans and high-level corruption and brigandage the Adeleke government represents, daily troop out from the tattered umbrella into our party,” he said.

“Thus leaving the PDP with carcasses and political dregs, with no structure and no hope to retain power in future elections.

“Therefore, the self-adulation of the PDP caucus that it remains the most popular party in Osun State is merely self-consolatory, as the claim could not be substantiated with facts.

“Did the caucus aggregate the opinions of the parents and students of the University of Ilesa, where students are charged N1.5 million per session, before arriving at its claim?

“Did the caucus seek the opinion of the Osun State public, who are angry that Governor Adeleke devoted N13 billion to purchase luxury cars for his aides and unproductive politicians without buying a single bus to ease public transport in the state?”

Lawal also cited “unresolved killings of APC supporters” during the last election as one of the reasons Adeleke’s defection was unacceptable.

He mentioned the killing of Remi Abass, former Irewole LG chairman and Tinubu campaigner, as a major concern for party stakeholders.

The Osun APC chair also raised allegations of corruption against some PDP figures, claiming they are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Lawal said it was hypocritical of Adeleke to criticise Tinubu’s administration in Osun while “pretending to be an ally in Abuja”.

He accused the governor of failing to channel increased federal allocations into public welfare.

According to him, residents of Osun are fed up with Adeleke’s leadership and celebrated his failed attempt to join the APC.

Lawal said Adeleke and the PDP should stop complaining and prepare to face the electorate’s judgement in 2026.