Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has dismissed rumours suggesting he plans to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reaffirming his unwavering loyalty to the party and commitment to the people of Osun.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, Adeleke described the speculation as false and urged the public to disregard it.
“Over the last few hours, I have been inundated with calls regarding rumours of a possible defection. I want to assure the good people of Osun State and Nigerians at large; I remain a loyal member and the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State,” he wrote.
“My focus remains on delivering good governance and fulfilling our 5-point agenda for Osun people. Please disregard the fake news and continue to support our mission for a better Osun State.”
This is the second time in recent months that the governor has had to address defection rumours. In May, during a meeting with PDP stakeholders, he restated his allegiance to the party amid growing scrutiny over his family’s perceived closeness to figures in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The latest speculation was triggered by a June 3 private visit to President Bola Tinubu’s Ikoyi residence in Lagos, where Adeleke was accompanied by his brother, billionaire businessman Adedeji Adeleke, and Afrobeats star Davido.
Meanwhile, the PDP continues to face internal turbulence, including the high-profile defections of Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and former vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa.
The party is also grappling with a leadership crisis, with Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye both laying claim to the position of National Secretary. Tensions escalated on June 30 when top PDP chieftains, including Chief Bode George, were temporarily denied access to the party’s Wadata Plaza headquarters ahead of the 100th NEC session.
Amid the disarray, Atiku Abubakar, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, is leading coalition talks that recently culminated in the adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform to challenge the APC in the 2027 general election.
