Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State finds himself navigating treacherous political waters as his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), grapples with a deepening leadership crisis ahead of the August 8, 2026, governorship election.
Recent speculation about Governor Adeleke’s potential defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been firmly dismissed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, who characterised the reports as “fake news” and “mere fabrication.” The governor, who completed his screening process as the party’s sole aspirant on October 30, remains committed to his mandate under the PDP platform, according to the official statement.
Rasheed specifically refuted claims by the Osun State APC chairman that Adeleke was negotiating with former Governor Rauf Aregbesola about joining the ADC. However, these rumours gain context when viewed against the backdrop of the governor’s previous unsuccessful attempt to join the APC, where he was reportedly rebuffed by stakeholders aligned with Minister Gboyega Oyetola.
The PDP is currently fractured into two competing factions, each claiming legitimacy and control of the party machinery. One faction is led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, while the other is headed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who maintains influence over National Chairman Umar Damagum and Secretary Samuel Anyanwu. Governor Adeleke is understood to be aligned with the Makinde faction.
The crisis intensified over the weekend when the Wike-led faction appointed Senator Mao Ohuabunwa as Chairman of its Board of Trustees and Hon. Isah Dansidi as Secretary during a Friday ceremony in Abuja. The appointments, announced by factional Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, were justified on the grounds that the previous leadership had compromised their neutrality by taking sides in the party’s internal conflict.
The legal landscape surrounding the party’s planned national convention remains muddied by contradictory judicial pronouncements. An Abuja Federal High Court has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the scheduled convention, while an Oyo State High Court, presided over by Justice A.L. Akintola, has cleared the party to proceed with its elective convention in Ibadan and ordered INEC to monitor the event.
In a significant development, PDP state chairmen have publicly distanced themselves from the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction, reaffirming their allegiance to the National Working Committee under Umar Damagum’s leadership. In a communiqué signed by Forum Chairman Tony Aziegbemi and Secretary Edward Masha following their Thursday meeting in Abuja, the chairmen urged party members to continue preparing for the Ibadan convention while emphasising their commitment to internal democracy.
Minister Wike has issued a stark warning regarding the implications of the crisis for Osun State, suggesting that Governor Adeleke would bear responsibility if the PDP fails to field a candidate in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike revealed that he had previously cautioned Adeleke about the political dangers he faced. “Ask the dancing governor if I never called him and asked if he saw the implication and danger he is running into,” Wike stated, adding that being a governor doesn’t guarantee political invincibility.
The minister, who has openly supported President Bola Tinubu despite his PDP membership, also defended his own political credentials and contributions to the party, citing his electoral victories in Rivers State against formidable opposition.
As the crisis deepens with both factions consolidating their positions and competing for legitimacy, Governor Adeleke’s political future remains uncertain. The inability of the party to resolve its internal contradictions raises serious questions about its capacity to present a united front in the 2026 Osun governorship election, leaving the incumbent governor in an increasingly precarious position.
