- Lawal says PDP now hosts political dregs and lacks any real structure or future electoral strength.
- APC chair alleges Adeleke spent N13bn on cars while ignoring public transport and Ilesa university’s financial burden.
The All Progressives Congress in Osun State says Governor Ademola Adeleke was rejected by the party due to his alleged political baggage.
This follows widespread speculation that the governor planned to exit the Peoples Democratic Party.
Earlier in the week, the PDP caucus in Osun State endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid and urged Adeleke to seek re-election on its platform.
The caucus added that the defection rumour “did not originate from the governor” and was not supported by the APC leadership.
Reacting on Wednesday, APC chairman in Osun, Tajudeen Lawal, alleged that Adeleke approached the party for protection ahead of the 2026 election.
“The Osun public is aware that the governor sought refuge in the APC out of fear of defeat in 2026,” he said.
He added that the governor was immediately identified as “a Trojan horse” whose entry would hurt the party’s credibility.
“The PDP has become a leprous house, deserted by well-meaning politicians. What’s left are political dregs with no electoral value,” he said.
He described the party as having “no structure and no hope to retain power in future elections”.
The APC chairman said the PDP collapsed after the 2023 polls and had since become “a private property of the Adeleke dynasty”.
“Bright minds and people with good names to protect, who could not tolerate the deceit, shenanigans and high-level corruption and brigandage the Adeleke government represents, daily troop out from the tattered umbrella into our party,” he said.
Lawal also dismissed the PDP caucus’ claim that it remained the most popular political group in the state.
“The self-adulation of the PDP caucus that it remains the most popular party in Osun State is merely self-consolatory, as the claim could not be substantiated with facts,” he said.
He queried whether the PDP considered the views of residents before making such a claim.
“Did the caucus aggregate the opinions of the parents and students of the University of Ilesa, where students are charged N1.5 million per session, before arriving at its claim?” he asked.
He also criticised the governor over alleged extravagant spending.
“Did the caucus seek the opinion of the Osun State public, who are angry that Governor Adeleke devoted N13 billion to purchase luxury cars for his aides and unproductive politicians without buying a single bus to ease public transport in the state?” he said.
Lawal further claimed that killings linked to the last election formed part of the APC’s rejection of Adeleke.
He said, “the killing of Remi Abass, former Irewole LG chairman and Tinubu campaigner, remains a major concern for party stakeholders.”
He also alleged that some PDP figures were facing corruption investigations.
“Several PDP officials are under probe by the EFCC and ICPC over allegations of financial misdeeds,” he claimed.
Lawal criticised Adeleke’s political posture, saying, “it is hypocritical for the governor to attack Tinubu’s administration in Osun while pretending to be an ally in Abuja.”
He accused the governor of failing to invest increased federal allocations into areas that would improve public welfare.
Lawal said residents had grown tired of Adeleke’s style of governance and were pleased when his alleged defection attempt was blocked.
“Instead of moaning, the governor and his party should get ready to face the judgment of the electorate in 2026,” he said.