Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has rejected claims that he walked away from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that his move to the Accord Party was driven by the prolonged internal crisis within the PDP rather than a lack of loyalty.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, he said he still has affection for the PDP but had to seek a more stable platform ahead of the 2026 governorship race.
Adeleke, now the Accord Party’s confirmed candidate for the August 2026 election, explained that he made several attempts to resolve the PDP’s internal issues, but the situation only continued to deteriorate.
“I love PDP, but with all the crises going on, you know about all these crises, I did my best, I tried, but everything seems to be falling apart every day. So, as a reasonable person, I had to make a decision and ask, ‘Where do I go from here?’” he said.
“That is why I decided to go to the Accord Party. It’s not true that I abandoned PDP. I love PDP, but I had to protect myself and protect my state because of the good work we have been doing, so that we can continue,” he added.
Adeleke also stressed that party labels will play a smaller role in the election, insisting that Osun voters will focus on competence and achievements rather than political affiliation.
“I believe that the people love me in Osun State, so it is not all about parties now. Osun people are wise—they don’t judge you based on your party; they judge the person. What have you done? I have a track record, and that track record is what they will consider,” he said.
The governor revealed that he joined the Accord Party over a month ago—on 6th November 2025—after extensive consultations with stakeholders. On Wednesday, a day after publicly announcing his move, he was officially confirmed as the party’s governorship candidate.
According to the Chairman of the Screening Committee and National Organising Secretary, Ibe Thankgod, Adeleke fulfilled all requirements and was cleared as the Accord Party’s sole candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election.