By John Dike, Osogbo
A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Dotun Babayemi, says the ruling party is poised to benefit politically from the ongoing crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.
Babayemi, who spoke shortly after submitting his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, said the unfolding controversy within the PDP has created a major opportunity for the APC ahead of the 2026 governorship election. The APC primary has been scheduled for December 13.
The aspirant noted that with growing speculation that Governor Ademola Adeleke will dump the PDP for the Accord Party following the internecine leadership tussle, the political landscape is shifting rapidly. Adeleke has reportedly resigned his membership of the PDP.
Babayemi argued that any switch of party by the governor would diminish his chances at the polls. According to him, Adeleke’s brand identity is tied to the PDP, and moving to another platform so close to the election would erode voter confidence.
“The sitting governor is not going to run on PDP. We already know he’s looking to move to a different party, probably Accord or APGA. If he does that, there’s not enough time to get the brand recognition needed to make an impact,” he said.
He further revealed that a significant number of PDP members were already preparing to defect to the APC, claiming that internal dissatisfaction within the opposition party had reached a tipping point.
“We are aware that about 50 percent of the people sitting in PDP today want progressive governance. With our candidacy, we expect to pull people from different parties into the APC. Many are reaching out and saying they are only waiting for the right moment,” Babayemi added.
The aspirant emphasised that his campaign is anchored on reconnecting governance with the grassroots. He criticised the current administration for allegedly focusing disproportionately on urban areas at the expense of rural communities, where most of the state’s agricultural strength lies.
“Osun is blessed with enormous natural resources. Nearly 65 percent of our people are farmers, yet many cannot transport their produce from farm to market due to poor infrastructure. The government has abandoned rural dwellers,” he stated.
Babayemi said his first priority, if elected governor, would be to reverse rural–urban migration by improving infrastructure, boosting agricultural productivity, and reviving local economies.
“Seventy percent of Osun is rural. To grow our economy, we must reconnect these communities with the urban centres,” he stressed.
With the APC primary drawing closer and uncertainty clouding the PDP’s future in the state, political watchers say Osun is set for a fiercely contested 2026 governorship race.
