The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Sunday Bisi, has confidently asserted that the recent wave of defections from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not hinder Governor Ademola Adeleke’s chances of securing a second term in the 2026 elections.
Speaking to Journalists, Bisi described the defections as “a storm in a teacup,” emphasizing that the governor continues to enjoy widespread support across various sectors of Osun society. According to him, “Adeleke is doing well in terms of infrastructure and social programmes for the people of the state. He has been delivering good governance, and people will appreciate him for that by re-electing him in 2026.”
The chairman’s remarks come amid growing concerns within the PDP following the defection of several party members, including Wole Oke, a sitting member of the House of Representatives representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency. Additionally, Felix Ogunwale, a former senator for Osun Central from 2003 to 2007, along with some of Oke’s supporters, have also joined the APC in recent weeks.
Despite these developments, Bisi dismissed the defections as insignificant compared to other political shifts in Nigeria, citing the defection of the entire PDP structure in Delta State to the APC as a more substantial example. He stated, “If you talk about defection, you can reference the movement of the Delta State governor and the entire PDP structure in that state to the APC. I acknowledge that as a real defection. The defections in Osun cannot affect us in any way.”
The defections have coincided with endorsements by the three PDP senators from Osun for President Bola Tinubu’s second term, further complicating the political landscape. Nevertheless, the PDP chairman remains optimistic that Adeleke’s performance and popularity will translate into a decisive victory in 2026.
