The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected any attempt by Governor Ademola Adeleke to defect to the party, branding him a political liability whose presence would undermine the integrity of the party.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the state party’s Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, in reaction to a communiqué released by the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Leadership Caucus.
The communiqué, signed by Governor Adeleke and 27 other PDP leaders, condemned internal and external opposition to his proposed defection.
According to Lawal, the governor’s motive for seeking entry into the APC was purely self-serving, driven by fear of an impending defeat in the 2026 governorship election.
“It was the fear of the impending 2026 election defeat that motivated the governor to desperately seek asylum in our party for his political survival,” the statement read.
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He described the Osun PDP as a crumbling structure overtaken by corruption and factionalism, allegedly controlled by the Adeleke family. Lawal claimed that well-meaning politicians were leaving the PDP in droves, joining the APC instead.
“From 2023, the party began to morally emaciate and became the war loot of the Adeleke dynasty,” Lawal alleged. “Bright minds and people with good names to protect… daily troop out from the tattered umbrella into our party.”
While acknowledging that political parties are open to new members, Lawal asserted that Adeleke’s proposed defection was intended to create internal discord and tarnish the APC’s image.
“A political party is a free-exit-free-entry arrangement,” he said. “However, when an entry is suspected to tarnish the party’s image and create a public perception crisis, the party is within its rights to block such a move.”
He went further to accuse Governor Adeleke of mismanaging nearly ₦1 trillion in public funds within 30 months and claimed that the governor was seeking refuge in the APC to escape backlash from Osun voters.
“Those who rejected Adeleke’s overtures knew his intention was deceptive and tied solely to a troubled re-election bid,” he added.
Lawal also criticised what he described as Adeleke’s two-faced political strategy condemning President Bola Tinubu on local media platforms while presenting himself as an ally in Abuja.
“You cannot abuse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Osun and pretend to support him in Abuja, just to secure your political future,” he said.
“A true supporter of Tinubu would prioritise the people’s welfare, not hoard public resources.”
The statement concludes by reaffirming the APC’s stance: Adeleke’s entry into the party is neither welcome nor beneficial.
