By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
Sendtips: adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has officially defected from the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party (AP), declaring his intent to seek a second term in the 2026 governorship election under the new platform, a move swiftly endorsed by his son, global music icon Davido, who rallied supporters online for the second time with a bold vow: “Victory is certain!”
Adeleke, 65, made the announcement Tuesday at the Government House Banquet Hall in Osogbo, flanked by national and state Accord leaders, including party chairman Maxwell Mbachu. He revealed he had quietly joined AP on November 6, 2025, after resigning from PDP on November 4 amid the opposition’s protracted leadership crisis. The defection, coming a day after Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s switch to the APC, deals another blow to PDP’s fracturing unity ahead of 2027.
“We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare,” Adeleke stated, citing the PDP’s “unending leadership tussle” as the final straw. He pledged to complete ongoing reforms, including infrastructure and education projects, vowing: “In accordance with the will of our stakeholders and the wishes of Osun people, I hereby declare for the Accord Party.”
Accord Party swiftly cleared Adeleke as its sole gubernatorial aspirant for the December 11 primary, with 150 delegates expected to ratify his nomination. Osun Information Commissioner Kolapo Alimi defended the timing, noting Adeleke delayed the unveiling to avoid disrupting PDP’s Ibadan convention.
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Davido, Adeleke’s son and a Grammy-nominated Afrobeats star, amplified the news on Instagram for the second time in days, posting a video of his father’s declaration with the caption: “Imole till 2030! Victory is certain! Osun people, let’s go!” The post, featuring Accord’s “thumbs-up” logo and chants of “Imole” (Adeleke’s nickname meaning “light”), garnered over 2 million views in hours, blending family pride with political rallying. This marks Davido’s second endorsement this week; he first teased the switch Monday with a cryptic “Big moves incoming” post amid rumors.
Davido’s media aide, Oladele Bamiji, echoed the sentiment, updating his profile to Accord’s logo with “Imole Till 2030.”
Adeleke’s exit the fifth PDP governor to defect this year exposes the party’s “ideological fatigue” and factional wars, per analyst Dr. Nduka Odo. PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba called it a “pity,” wishing Adeleke well but slamming the move as self-serving.
Ruling APC in Osun, dismissed the switch as “desperation,” with spokesman Kolawole Oladokun predicting: “Osun remains APC’s fortress.”
As Osun braces for a multi-party showdown against APC’s, Adeleke’s star-powered pivot could reshape the Southwest opposition landscape.
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