The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Osun State has boldly declared its intention to clinch victory in the 2026 governorship election, maintaining that both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be decisively defeated.
The declaration from the ADC follows a recent communiqué issued by the Osun State PDP leadership, which affirmed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s commitment to remaining in the PDP and also endorsed both his 2026 re-election bid and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s candidacy for the 2027 presidential election.
Addressing the political developments, Charles Omidiji, Chairman of the Osun State ADC, voiced strong skepticism over Governor Adeleke’s chances at the polls, regardless of his party affiliation. Omidiji confidently predicted that Adeleke’s political trajectory was nearing its end in Osun politics.
“If he doesn’t decamp to the APC, it will only minimize the scale of defeat waiting for him in the next election,” Omidiji stated.
“Had he actually joined the APC, it would have been the final political blow to both APC and PDP in the state. But either way, the ADC is set to produce the next governor of Osun State.”
The PDP’s communiqué, dated Sunday, July 21, 2025, was the outcome of a leadership caucus meeting held at the Government House in Osogbo. The meeting aimed to put an end to mounting speculation that Governor Adeleke was planning to defect to the APC.
According to the PDP, the speculation was unfounded, noting that: “The idea of Governor Adeleke defecting to the APC did not originate from him, and most APC members in Osun are not in support of his joining the party.”
Ironically, the PDP also acknowledged internal tension surrounding the matter. The statement revealed that while many PDP loyalists were uncomfortable with the possibility of Adeleke’s defection, they had nonetheless expressed willingness to follow him out of loyalty.
“A majority of PDP members in Osun were not pleased with the idea of him defecting but were ready to support whichever political path he chose, in recognition of their unwavering loyalty and love for his leadership.”
Despite those tensions, the Osun PDP leadership chose to reaffirm Adeleke’s candidacy for the 2026 governorship election, urging members to remain committed to the party. At the same time, the party made a surprising move by officially endorsing President Bola Tinubu—a member of the APC—for re-election in 2027, citing Osun as Tinubu’s ancestral home.
This rare endorsement of a rival party’s presidential candidate has sparked fresh conversations across political lines in the state, especially as the ADC positions itself as a viable alternative, capitalizing on growing public discontent with both major parties.
As the political climate in Osun continues to shift, all eyes are now on the ADC, which is seeking to leverage the internal contradictions within both the PDP and APC to chart a new path to power.