The political landscape in Osun State became charged on Tuesday as Governor Ademola Adeleke, alongside former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, openly declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The decision, announced in a communiqué issued after a high-profile stakeholders’ meeting, also confirmed Adeleke’s resolve to remain in the PDP, shelving speculations of his defection to the All Progressives Congress.

The development, however, drew sharp criticism from the African Democratic Congress, which accused Adeleke of political indecision and insisted that his backing of Tinubu would not save him from defeat in the next Osun governorship election.

On Tuesday, the governor’s decision to back Tinubu while remaining in PDP was revealed in the communiqué made available to journalists at the end of the meeting of PDP chieftains in the state.

The roll-call at the meeting included ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, the lawmaker representing Osun East Senatorial District, Lere Oyewumi, Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, ex-PDP National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo, among others.

The stakeholders resolved, “The PDP in Osun State recognises the fact that Osun State is the ancestral home of President Bola Tinubu, which makes the President the son of Osun State.

“Therefore, the PDP in Osun State hereby adopts and endorses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in the 2027 presidential election.”

The meeting also declared support for Adeleke’s sole candidature of the party for the Osun governorship election in 2026.

“PDP in Osun State reaffirms its adoption and endorsement of Governor Ademola Adeleke for re-election in the 2026 governorship election on the platform of the PDP.

“Governor Ademola Adeleke and all members of the PDP in Osun State should remain in the PDP. The leadership of the PDP in Osun State is directed to disseminate the resolution to all structures of the party in the state,” the communiqué read.

Reacting to the development, the Osun State chairman of the ADC, Charles Omidiji, said Adeleke’s refusal to join the APC may not eventually save him from defeat.

Omidiji subsequently declared that ADC, a party that has ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola as its Interim National Secretary, would win the next Osun governorship poll.

“If he doesn’t join the APC again, it will only reduce the margin of the loss awaiting him at the poll.

“If he had defected, that would have been the end of both the APC and PDP in Osun. But whatever happens, ADC will produce the next Osun governor,” he said.

Giving reasons for Adeleke’s decision not to join the APC, despite months of speculations, the communiqué read, “The majority of the members of the APC in Osun State are opposed to the idea of the defection of Governor Adeleke to the APC, which did not originate from the governor in the first instance.

“Some APC leaders, based on entrenched interests, have demonstrated hostility and resentment towards Governor Ademola Adeleke. Some went on social media and national television to call Governor Adeleke all kinds of unprintable names.

“The majority of PDP members in Osun State are not happy about the idea of the defection of Governor Adeleke to the APC, but reluctantly agreed to follow Governor Adeleke to whichever party he goes to show their love, support and loyalty to his leadership.” (The PUNCH)