William Kayode
Governor Ademola Adeleke is increasingly caught in the crossfire of the deepening crisis threatening to tear apart the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of its November 15–16 pre-National Convention meetings and the 2026 governorship primary in Osun State. Although Adeleke remains the PDP’s only screened aspirant for the August 8, 2026 gubernatorial election, mounting factional tensions and a renewed wave of political rumours have unsettled the party’s internal dynamics, reviving speculation about his possible defection.
Reports suggesting that the governor was considering a move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) prompted a swift reaction from his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, who dismissed the claims as fake news pushed by the opposition. According to Rasheed, Adeleke remains firmly aligned with the PDP and is focused on fulfilling his electoral mandate in Osun State. His denial follows whispers linking the governor to political overtures allegedly involving former Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s network, though both Adeleke and the ADC insist no such talks are happening.
Adeleke, widely believed to belong to the Seyi Makinde-led bloc within the PDP, now finds himself navigating a widening gulf between two powerful currents in the party. One current revolves around the influence of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while the other is anchored by Makinde’s control of key national officers, including National Chairman Umar Damagum and Secretary Samuel Anyanwu. Recent court rulings have contributed to the confusion. An Abuja Federal High Court halted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the planned convention, while a counter-judgment by the Oyo State High Court authorised the convention to proceed in Ibadan with INEC supervision.
The crisis escalated when Wike declared publicly that the PDP could lose its chance to present a candidate for the Osun and Ekiti governorship elections, placing the responsibility on Governor Adeleke. Speaking on national television, Wike accused Adeleke of ignoring vital political advice and argued that the governor underestimated the complexities of internal party politics. He also asserted that no one had contributed more to the PDP than himself, casting his position as both strategic and indispensable.
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As tensions increased, the Wike-backed faction deepened its structural counter-moves by unveiling a new Board of Trustees led by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Hon. Isah Dansidi. These appointments were announced in Abuja by factional Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed. The faction justified the changes on the grounds that the former leaders, Senator Adolphus Wabara and Senator Ahmed Makarfi, compromised their neutrality by publicly declaring positions in the ongoing disputes. At the same time, PDP state chairmen across the country distanced themselves from the Wike-aligned group and reaffirmed their loyalty to the Damagum-led National Working Committee while urging party members to continue their preparations for the Ibadan convention.
These developments leave Governor Adeleke politically exposed at a crucial moment. Although he remains the sole aspirant for the Osun governorship ticket, the unresolved tensions and conflicting legal decisions cast uncertainty over whether the PDP will be able to nominate any candidate at all. With both factions refusing to shift positions and legal interpretations worsening the gridlock, Adeleke’s political future within the party remains uncertain, fueling fresh speculation about his next move as the PDP inches toward a decisive but deeply contested convention.