By Amofokhai Williams
In a dramatic shift reshaping Osun State’s political landscape, Governor Ademola Adeleke has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the lesser-known Accord Party, positioning the smaller platform as his vehicle for seeking a second term in the 2026 governorship election.
The announcement was made Tuesday at a well-attended stakeholders’ event in the Banquet Hall of the Osun State Government House in Osogbo.
Flanked by national and state executives of the Accord Party, top government officials, and enthusiastic supporters donning the party’s branded attire, Adeleke revealed that he had quietly joined Accord on November 6, 2025, just days after formally resigning from the PDP amid its protracted national leadership crisis.
“I joined the Accord Party more than a month ago, precisely on November 6, as a platform to seek re-election in 2026,” Adeleke declared.
“This was after weeks of consultation and deliberations with stakeholders and opinion leaders.
Stakeholders and residents of Osun State are aware of why we are taking this important decision. We intend to pursue a second term in office on the platform of the Accord Party to complete ongoing delivery of good governance and democratic dividends, which have been applauded at home and abroad.”
The governor highlighted Accord’s emphasis on welfarism as a key factor in his choice, aligning it with his administration’s focus on workers’ welfare, infrastructure development, and citizen-centered policies.
“We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare,” he said, urging residents from across Osun’s senatorial districts—West, East, and Central—to unite behind the new platform.
Adeleke’s defection caps months of speculation triggered by the PDP’s internal turmoil, which had raised doubts about the party’s ability to field a viable candidate for the off-cycle election scheduled for August 2026.
His resignation from the PDP, dated November 4, 2025, cited the “current crisis of the national leadership” as the primary reason, thanking the party for past opportunities while closing that chapter.
Political analysts view the move as strategic. Accord, often described by its leaders as free from factions, godfatherism, and internal chaos—issues that plagued the PDP—had actively courted Adeleke in recent weeks.
Party officials promised a stable structure, and reports indicate Adeleke’s camp engaged in extensive discussions to ensure a smooth transition ahead of primaries.
The decision comes despite earlier rumours of potential alignments with other parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
However, Adeleke’s team dismissed those options, with sources emphasizing Accord’s ideological fit and organizational peace.
