Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the state leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, a move that has triggered backlash within the party’s national and regional leadership.
The endorsement was confirmed in a communiqué released after a meeting at the Government House. The statement denied reports of Adeleke’s alleged defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and asserted that the PDP remains a viable platform for the governor’s political aspirations, especially ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election.
The communiqué emphasised that decisions on political alignment must reflect the sentiments of Osun voters and PDP members, noting that a majority of APC members in the state are not in favour of Adeleke joining their party. It also noted that while most PDP members were displeased by the idea of his defection, they had expressed readiness to support him out of loyalty.
Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu has drawn sharp criticism. Professor Gbade Ojo, a political scientist and former Chief of Staff to the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, described the move as a serious breach of democratic norms and an act of anti-party activity. He stressed that supporting a presidential candidate from another party, while the PDP plans to field its own, was politically unacceptable.
Sanya Atofarati, Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the South-West, also distanced the regional chapter from the governor’s stance. He described the endorsement as Adeleke’s personal decision, which does not reflect the position of the South-West PDP.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi, warned that the move could backfire if not backed by a clear agreement with Tinubu. He said such declarations must be matched with reciprocal assurances or risk political damage to Adeleke.
Former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Bode George, also condemned the endorsement. Speaking ahead of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, he reaffirmed that the PDP remains opposed to Tinubu’s re-election bid and is committed to presenting a strong candidate to challenge the APC in 2027. George hinted that Adeleke might be acting under federal pressure, including claims of withheld local government allocations to Osun State.
The endorsement has exposed growing tensions within the PDP and raised questions about internal unity, party loyalty, and the opposition’s strategy ahead of the next general election.
