A prominent politician in Nigeria’s southwestern Osun State has sparked intense debate after publicly accusing Governor Ademola Adeleke of seeking to defect to the ruling party amid claims of dwindling political support. Senator Iyiola Omisore, a former deputy governor and member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), branded Adeleke a “political orphan” during a televised interview on Channels TV this week, alleging the governor is “begging” to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), which holds power at the national level.
Omisore’s remarks came amid mounting speculation about Adeleke’s loyalty following his recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu, an APC leader. The governor, elected under the PDP banner in 2022, has not publicly addressed the accusations. However, Omisore claimed Adeleke has actively courted APC figures, including an unnamed southern state governor, to facilitate his crossover. “Why is [Adeleke] struggling, begging, and fighting to join the APC?” Omisore questioned, asserting that no APC members in Osun had defected to the PDP during Adeleke’s three-year tenure.
Highlighting what he called a “flood” of departures from the PDP, Omisore cited several high-profile exits, including Alhaji Isa Oyedokun, Dayo Babayemi, and legislator Wole Oke. He claimed “one-seventh” of the PDP’s local membership had shifted to the APC in recent years, with more expected to follow. Political analysts note that such defections are not uncommon in Nigeria’s fluid party landscape, where allegiances often shift ahead of major elections.
The scrutiny around Adeleke intensified after his July 9 meeting with Tinubu in Abuja, the national capital. While the agenda remains undisclosed, the interaction has fueled speculation about a potential realignment. Since assuming office, Adeleke has occasionally clashed with PDP leadership, including disputes over party strategy and resource allocation. His older brother, Davido.
Experts emphasize that Nigeria’s governorship elections are highly localized, and party loyalty often hinges on access to federal resources and patronage. The APC, which controls the presidency and a majority of state governments, has steadily absorbed opposition figures since its formation in 2013. A potential Adeleke defection could weaken the PDP’s foothold in Osun, a state with a history of tight electoral contests.
The governor’s office has yet to issue an official response to Omisore’s allegations. Meanwhile, PDP officials have downplayed the remarks, dismissing them as “baseless rhetoric” from a factional actor. As the 2026 governorship race approaches, the political maneuvering in Osun underscores the volatile dynamics shaping Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
