Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a dramatic political realignment that has reshaped the contest for the Osun State governorship, the Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, headed by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has formally endorsed the candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Adewale Adebayo, for the August 15 election. The endorsement, announced on Wednesday at a political gathering in Okuku, Osun State, effectively abandons incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party, and signals a strategic partnership between the PDP faction and the APM ahead of the 2026 and 2027 elections.
Oyinlola, accompanied by former Secretary to the State Government, Fatai Akinbade, and former PDP South-West Vice Chairman, Tajudeen Oladipo, formally presented the APM flag to Adebayo as a symbol of the faction's support. The former governor explained that the decision was a reflection of the existing cooperation between the Turaki-led PDP faction and the APM at the national level, which was now being extended to Osun State. "There is an alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement. The Turaki-led faction of the PDP has adopted the APM candidate in Osun State," Oyinlola declared.
The endorsement comes barely 24 hours after some chieftains of the Accord Party and Senior Special Assistants to Governor Adeleke defected to the All Progressives Congress, further highlighting the shifting political dynamics in the state. Oyinlola dispelled any notion of a PDP-Accord alliance, stressing that the "structure" would work for the APM and not any other party. He described the APM/PDP alliance as a "movement" combining both parties to present a "formidable force" for the governorship election and the subsequent 2027 general elections.
Responding to the endorsement, Adebayo declared that he was not in the race to negotiate or participate but to win. "We are not in this election to participate. We are not in this election to negotiate. We are in this election to win," he said. He described the Osun election as a "litmus test" for the 2027 presidential election, saying that winning Osun would signal victory for the presidential bid of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. Adebayo also rejected offers from the APC and Accord, arguing that those parties had nothing to offer Osun apart from "ill-governance".
The endorsement adds a new dimension to an already crowded race. Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform. Other major contenders include Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress. The backing of the Turaki-led PDP faction is expected to strengthen Adebayo's campaign and increase public confidence in his candidacy, particularly among voters seeking an alternative to the two dominant parties. For the people of Osun, the August 15 election promises to be one of the most fiercely contested in the state's history, with the APM emerging as a significant player in the political landscape.
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