Why rejected him – APC
We are confident of victory in 2026 – PDP
By Alade Adisa
Facts have emerged on why the strident effort by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC, hit a brick wall – his demand to be given the governorship ticket of the party next year was flatly rejected.
Check by New Daily Prime shows that Adeleke’s demand upset some leaders of the APC, especially the former governor, who is now the Minister for Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.
Oyetola, who contested the 2022 poll with Adeleke and lost, is the nephew of President Bola Tinubu and has been told by the President not to seek the ticket of the APC next year but to remain in Abuja and continue to work with him.
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Because of that, a leader of the APC from Ife area is being tipped to fly the APC flag next year.
Sources in the APC also revealed that the manner former PDP governors who left to join the APC took over the leadership of the APC in Delta and Akwa Ibom states has taught many a politician lessons.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Festus Keyamo, who were hitherto nurturing governorship ambitions in Delta, have had to perish the thought.
However, the APC, on Wednesday issued a statement saying it rejected Adeleke because of his poor performance and that he would be a liability to the party.
The APC, in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, said moving from one political party to another is not a big deal, but the party rejected Adeleke because of his too much baggage, which makes him a liability to the party.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke was rejected because he was quickly identified as a Trojan horse, a big baggage and liability that would hurt the integrity of the APC.
“We state first of all that the highly informed Osun State public, who are aware that it was the fear of the impending 2026 election defeat that motivated the governor to desperately seek in our party an asylum for his political survival in 2026, are excited about the measured treatment meted to the Osun State governor and his desperate party men.
“It is no longer news that the Osun PDP has become a leprous house deserted by decent politicians to serve the people.
“From 2023 when the party began to morally emaciate and became a war loot of the Adeleke dynasty, bright minds and people with good names to protect, who could not tolerate the deceit, shenanigans and high-levelled corruption and brigandage the Adeleke government represents, daily troop out from the tattered umbrella into our party, thus leaving the PDP with carcasses and political dregs with no structure and 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”, he said.
However, the PDP in a statement issued by its Chairman, Sunday Bisi, said though it does not intend to join issues with the opposition, stated that the party is the most popular in the state, adding that the people of the state would determine the next governor of the State.
“Our party is focused on the people and is not seeking to import fake voters and rig the 2026 elections as being plotted by the opposition.
“Our position on the 2026 and 2027 race remains sacrosanct even as it noted that Osun people have the records of performance of all parties and will make their choice.
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“We won’t join issues with the opposition. We have no plan to rig the 2026 election. We are sure Osun people will vote for PDP and stand by their votes next year. Our records of good performance speak for us.
“Osun PDP remains solid. We affirm that Governor Adeleke will win Osun votes resoundingly in 2026. Through the support of the Osun PDP, President Tinubu will also win the Osun election”, he asserted.
