Osun 2026: Between Adeleke’s reelection and PDP’s endorsement of Tinubu
By Rauf Oyewole
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has announced the unanimous decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) adopting him as the party’s choice for the next year governorship election while the leadership of the party also endorsed the President, Bola Tinubu for 2027 presidential race.
According to the communiqué at the end of a wide consultation in Osogbo, Adeleke said that the decision was to show support for the President, “son of the soil” from Osun State.
This move has generated reactions across party lines, saying that the endorsement validated rumoured defection of the Governor. Although Adeleke has publicly denied leaving his party “that gave him opportunity” to run and emerge the governor in 2022.
Adeleke who has steered Osun State with a strong emphasis on developmental, non‑partisan governance, positioning public service delivery above party lines. Amid speculation about defections and shifting allegiances, a surprising new political development emerged, all three PDP senators from Osun have publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s re‑election bid in 2027. This move has stirred intense debate within the state’s PDP and further elevated the spotlight on Osun politics ahead of both the 2026 governorship and 2027 presidential elections.
Many hold the opinion that Adeleke and the Federal lawmakers have traded their ways into the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) just to retain their seats.
There have been persistent rumors suggesting Adeleke was planning to defect from the PDP to the APC. However, he firmly denied these claims, reaffirming his unwavering loyalty to the PDP and commitment not to defect or support any other party. Local opinion leaders, including the Osun Leaders of Thought, backed this stance and discouraged any move toward the APC, reinforcing his position as a steadfast PDP custodian in the state.
With the governorship election set for August 2026, opposition within Osun has mobilised themselves. The APC aligned coalition aims to unseat Adeleke, arguing the state’s leadership lacks discipline and direction. Critics have accused the governor of underperforming and failing to meet the expectations of Osun people since assumption in office.
Although Governor Adeleke has consistently preached developmental politics, urging that governance should be inclusive and impactful, transcending party divisions. He has retained projects and contractors inherited from past administrations, emphasizing that service delivery, not partisan alignment should guide state development policy.
The senators from the state who have endorsed Tinubu are; Lere Oyewumi (West), Olubiyi Ajagunla (Central), and Francis Fadahunsi (East) all PDP serving lawmakers. The lawmakers credited Tinubu’s leadership with delivering improvements in infrastructure, economic policies, national security, and food prices, signaling a bold show of support for his vision despite residing in the opposition party.
Despite the senators’ public alignment, Osun PDP leaders clarified that any formal state-level endorsement would hinge on Governor Adeleke’s position. The party pledged to defer to his directive before declaring solidarity or opposition to any presidential claimant.
Within the PDP’s state structure, the endorsement has triggered friction and debate. While some view the senators’ move as premature and undermining party unity, others regard it as a strategic reach toward federal power alignment amid larger political currents.
According to a public affairs analyst, Olukoya Michael, believed that politicians, particularly this breed of Nation's leaders, see politics as transactional, who trade anything for money. “This is what played out in Rivers in 2023. The then Governor, Nyesom Wike was believed to have worked for the candidate of APC against his party's flag bearer –Atiku Abubakar.
“He said that he would not support a Northern candidate against a southern candidate. You can see what the governor said, that because Tinubu is from Osun State, they have resolved to work together and support their son from Osun State against whosoever candidate their party will produce in 2027.
“This is where we found ourselves, Nigerian leaders now engage in ethnic politics and regional interests above party ideology and national development. But for me, I think Adeleke has seen what is ahead of him after he must have consulted his people. You and I know that the President lost Osun in 2023 which brought embarrassment to him and this time, he won't give any chance to lose the state and that might affect Adeleke's stronghold next year.”
Adeleke finds himself balancing two competing demands: safeguarding his position as Osun PDP leader while managing overtures and endorsements that straddle party lines. He has avoided making explicit declarations, likely to maintain unity in Osun ahead of state polls and preserve policy control through the PDP hierarchy.
Their support raises questions about the internal coherence of Osun PDP whether senators are pursuing personal alignment for local gains or signaling growing disenchantment with party leadership and structures.
Osun being Tinubu’s ancestral region adds weight to any political gesture. Local endorsements may be seen as strategic attempts to align electorally with the federal center, ensuring development resources and mitigating political friction with the ruling party, especially during governance transitions in 2026 and beyond.