Adeleke’s defection will hurt APC, youth group cautions Tinubu

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

A political youth group, Osun Progressive Youth (O-SPY), has warned President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against any alleged plans to admit Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, into the party.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the group’s coordinator, Tunmise Ajiboye, O-SPY said such a move could backfire politically, especially if Adeleke is handed the party’s 2026 governorship ticket. The group maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is weakened and that Adeleke’s popularity is exaggerated.

Ajiboye noted that the APC has instead gained strength since Adeleke assumed office in 2022, with several notable PDP members defecting to the APC. He said the idea that Adeleke would boost the party’s chances in 2026 is a misconception.

Among those who have reportedly defected to the APC are former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun; Prince Dotun Babayemi; ex-SSG Kazeem Adio; former Chief of Staff Peter Babalola; and PDP House of Representatives aspirant, Kayode Oduoye.

“Osun people are ready to reject both Adeleke and the PDP in 2026,” Ajiboye said. “APC has never lost any members to PDP. Rather, more PDP members have joined our party since 2022.”

The group also accused Adeleke’s camp of spreading “false claims” about the governor’s popularity in an attempt to negotiate his entry into the APC, warning the president not to be deceived.

They rejected the narrative that the Adeleke dynasty controls Osun’s political direction, calling it a lie used to gain leverage. The group insisted that Osun remains an APC stronghold.

O-SPY concluded by urging President Tinubu to preserve the integrity and internal unity of the APC, warning that any political alliance with Governor Adeleke could undermine the party’s credibility ahead of the 2026 elections.