A political interest group, Osun Leaders of Thought (OLT), has advised Governor Ademola Adeleke against defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging instead that he remain in the party while fully supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by Comrade Adesola Adigun, OLT’s Chief of Public Affairs, the group cautioned against rising pressures on Adeleke to cross over to the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that such a move could destabilize both state and national political alignments.
“We take note of mounting pressure from far and near to get Governor Ademola Adeleke to cross over to the APC. This is ill-advised and unnecessary. The Governor should remain in PDP and continue the good work he is doing for the good people of Osun state,” the group said.
While reaffirming support for President Tinubu’s 2027 ambition, the group described it as a matter of ancestral and regional loyalty, noting that Osun, being Tinubu’s ancestral home, has a moral obligation to support his second term.
OLT stressed that defecting to the APC would be counterproductive for both Adeleke and Tinubu, describing the move as a political distraction that could upset the fragile balance in Osun’s political structure.
They cited four reasons: Adeleke’s unmatched political appeal in Osun, the internal crisis within the state APC, the historic rivalries among top Osun political actors, and the existing bipartisan sentiment among voters in support of both Tinubu and Adeleke’s re-election.
“To win Osun, Adeleke’s brand is a must for the President without dilution,” the group noted, while also warning that merging the Governor with former adversaries within the APC could reignite unresolved tensions.
The recommended a strategic alliance between Adeleke and the Presidency, without a party switch. “We call on Mr President and the Governor of Osun State to enter into a mutual supportive agreement. Nothing like defection should be included. We speak on behalf of many silent leaders of thought across Osun State,” the statement read.
