The Senior Special Adviser on Media to Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Mr. Hezekiah Bamiji, has strongly criticized the defection of two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators from the state to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing their move as a poorly thought-out political miscalculation rooted in misinformation and self-interest.
Bamiji made these remarks while speaking as a guest on The Morning Brief, a political discourse programme broadcast on Channels Television on Thursday, July 24. He expressed disappointment over the actions of Senators Francis Fadahunsi (representing Osun East) and Olubiyi Fadeyi (representing Osun Central), who recently dumped the PDP and were received into the APC fold on the floor of the Senate.
Four PDP Senators Defect to APC Amid Growing Opposition Crisis
According to him, both senators appeared to have been influenced by unsubstantiated rumours alleging that Governor Ademola Adeleke was planning to defect to the APC. He suggested that this rumour prompted the lawmakers to jump ship prematurely, likely in a bid to secure their own political relevance or curry favour at the national level.
“What happened is a clear case of political miscalculation by the senators,” Bamiji said during the interview. “They were carried away by speculation. They assumed that the governor was about to defect and thought they needed to outpace him to remain relevant. That’s not politics. That’s desperation.”
He continued by stressing that the senators should have exercised political maturity and loyalty by consulting with Governor Adeleke, who remains the undisputed leader of the PDP in Osun State. He lamented that such a consequential decision was taken without engaging the governor or the people they represent.
“Governor Adeleke is not just the state’s executive head; he is the PDP’s leader in Osun. It would have been only respectful and strategic for them to meet with him to understand his position,” Bamiji said. “But they didn’t. Instead, they made assumptions, and unfortunately for them, they were wrong.”
Bamiji also argued that the senators’ defection was a response to pressure from Abuja-based political interests, which often seek to control state-level politics without understanding grassroots realities. He warned that such top-down influence is eroding internal party democracy and threatening political stability.
“Our democracy is suffering because people are making career-defining decisions based on Abuja gossip. The APC has laid a trap, and these senators, sadly, walked into it without foresight,” he remarked.
The media aide went on to reassure Osun residents and party members that Governor Adeleke has no intention of defecting to the APC, despite rumours fueled by his visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier in June.
Adeleke, alongside his brother and business mogul Adedeji Adeleke, and their nephew, Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke (popularly known as Davido), had visited the President at his private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. The visit had sparked public speculation that Adeleke might be planning to realign politically with the APC.
Bamiji, however, dismissed such assumptions, noting that high-level political figures frequently meet across party lines for reasons ranging from national unity to developmental cooperation.
“People are reading too much into a courtesy visit,” he said. “Yes, Governor Adeleke visited President Tinubu, but that does not translate to a plan to defect. The governor has repeatedly affirmed his loyalty to the PDP and remains focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun.”
He further stressed that good governance is not the exclusive preserve of any political party. According to him, Adeleke has demonstrated leadership, transparency, and a commitment to development since assuming office, and does not need to switch parties to continue serving the state effectively.
“Governor Adeleke’s track record in just over a year shows that you can bring progress without switching political allegiances. The people of Osun elected him under the PDP banner, and he remains faithful to that mandate,” he added.
The defection of Fadahunsi and Fadeyi, alongside two other PDP senators from other states, has significantly reshaped the balance of power in the National Assembly. With the recent development, the APC now commands a supermajority in the Senate, with 70 out of 109 seats, while the PDP’s numbers have dwindled to 28, potentially weakening its influence on legislative matters, especially those requiring a two-thirds vote.
Political analysts have viewed the wave of defections as part of a broader realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, with some interpreting it as an attempt by lawmakers to align with the federal ruling party for survival or personal political advantage. However, critics like Bamiji argue that such movements often disconnect politicians from their electoral base and undermine ideological consistency.
As the political temperature rises both at the state and national levels, the PDP in Osun State may face renewed internal challenges. However, Bamiji insisted that the party remains solid under Adeleke’s leadership and would continue to focus on its governance agenda, undistracted by what he described as the “noise of defection.”