Adeleke secures Accord Party governorship ticket after quitting PDP

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has formally emerged as the Accord Party’s governorship candidate for the 2026 election, marking a decisive shift away from the Peoples Democratic Party following months of internal turmoil.

Delegates affirm Adeleke as sole Aspirant in Osogbo primary

Adeleke was ratified as the party’s flagbearer on Wednesday after delegates from all 30 local government areas voted in a primary held in Osogbo.

He ran unopposed, polling 145 out of 150 votes, with five ballots declared invalid.

The exercise, conducted under strict security, was observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and overseen by the Accord Party’s national leaders.

Announcing the result, Primary Committee Secretary Abdulazeez Salaudeen affirmed Adeleke as the party’s candidate for the 8 August 2026 governorship race.

The governor was accompanied by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, alongside key members of his administration.

Defection reshapes Osun’s political landscape ahead of 2026

However, notable PDP figures, including the state chairman and House of Assembly leadership, were visibly absent.

Adeleke’s emergence comes after escalating tension within the PDP, which led to the suspension of the party’s planned primary earlier in November.

Widening factional disputes created uncertainty over the PDP’s direction, prompting the governor to resign on 4 November and seek a more stable platform.

Although he reportedly explored talks with the All Progressives Congress, discussions collapsed, pushing him to finalise his move to Accord.

By 6th November, he had quietly registered with the party, later revealing that his decision was made after “extensive consultations” held weeks before.

He noted that Accord’s focus on social welfare aligned closely with his administration’s priorities, especially its worker-centred policies and public service reforms.

After joining the party, Accord’s National Executive Committee screened and cleared him as its sole aspirant before issuing him a certificate of eligibility.

With his nomination confirmed, Adeleke pledged to continue projects initiated under his administration, stressing that his defection was driven by the need for political stability and effective governance.

His entry has immediately strengthened Accord’s position in the 2026 race, positioning the party as a strong challenger to the PDP and APC.

Adeleke’s move also underscores deeper fractures within the PDP at the national level, where leadership struggles have triggered multiple defections.