A youth group in Osun State called Osun Progressives Youth has warned that if Governor Ademola Adeleke joins the All Progressives Congress (APC), it could cause serious problems for the party. They believe this move could hurt APC’s chances in the upcoming 2026 and 2027 elections.
The group, which is part of the Osun APC, said that Adeleke joining the party might create divisions inside APC. They pointed out that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adeleke’s current party, has been very critical of APC’s leader in Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola. This could make it hard for APC members to trust each other if Adeleke moves over.
Tunmise Ajiboye, the coordinator of the youth group, said Adeleke’s defection would bring bad luck to APC. He believes Adeleke knows he is likely to lose in the 2026 election to the APC candidate.
Ajiboye added that many people in Osun are ready to vote Adeleke out because they think his government is not helping the state move forward. He also said those who compare Osun to other states like Delta in support of Adeleke’s defection are wrong.
He explained that states like Delta and Akwa Ibom mostly support PDP, while Osun is a progressive state. In the last presidential election, APC got less than 30% of votes in Delta and Akwa Ibom, but in Osun, APC got 47.34% while PDP got 48.85%.
Ajiboye argued that Adeleke joining APC would not increase the party’s votes in 2027. Instead, it might reduce support because many APC voters could feel disappointed and betrayed.
On the other hand, a different group called Osun Leaders of Thought praised Governor Adeleke for visiting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently. They said this showed political maturity and a step toward unity in the Southwest, even though the two leaders belong to different parties.
In a statement, the group’s press officer, Adekunle Adebayo, said Adeleke’s visit was a good way to build cooperation across party lines. They admired the governor’s decision to reach out to the president.
The group also praised President Tinubu for welcoming Adeleke warmly, saying it showed Tinubu is a leader for all Nigerians, no matter their party.
They said that real leadership should rise above party politics. Osun is an important part of the Yoruba region, and it’s good when state and federal leaders work together.
However, the group criticized some APC members who spoke against the meeting. One of these critics was Timothy Owoeye, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, who said the APC ticket was “not for sale” after Adeleke’s visit.
The Osun Leaders of Thought said this comment was unnecessary. They explained that President Tinubu did not make any political deals during the visit, and it was only a show of leadership and open-mindedness.
