As the heatwave of the broad based coalition to dislodge the All Progressives Congress, APC, from power in 2027 intensifies, a political group loyal to President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and join the APC.
Point blank, the group, Osun Democrats for Democracy, ODD, sought Adeleke’s support of President Tinubu’s administration and re-election bid.
In a statement issued in Osogbo on Wednesday and signed by its Director of Publicity, Comrade Adeoye Fasipe, the group said:
“In view of compelling reasons including the need to support Mr. President in the face of a growing national gang-up, the instability within the PDP, and the importance of ensuring seamless continuity after 2026 — we respectfully call on Governor Ademola Adeleke to join the APC.”
It begged Adeleke to make what it described as a “patriotic and timely sacrifice” in the interest of Osun State, the Yoruba nation, and the survival of Southern leadership in Nigeria.
According to the statement, “We recognize that defection is almost the highest level of political sacrifice.
“However, the national situation today compels all hands to be on deck to ensure the success and survival of our son, President Bola Tinubu.
“It will also make it easier for Governor Adeleke to complete his laudable governance efforts with broader support and divine cover”.
ODD noted that the current political climate, both nationally and in Osun State, necessitates critical realignments across party lines, particularly as Nigeria approaches another major election cycle in 2026 and 2027.
To the group, the political calculus must shift to protect the strategic interests of the South, with Yoruba political actors playing key roles in ensuring continuity and stability at the center.
Noting that although defection often comes with political and moral consequences, it said the prevailing circumstances justify such a realignment.
It described Adeleke’s defection as potentially “the highest form of political sacrifice and statesmanship” in the context of national interest.
The group also noted the internal crisis within the PDP, describing the party as “factionalised” and lacking the stability needed for serious electoral competition in the near future.
It said, “The PDP is already a factionalised party with shaky grounds for future electoral contests.
“We will not advise Mr. Governor to remain in a political party that is facing uncertainty in its nomination processes for both the 2026 gubernatorial election and the 2027 presidential election”.
Justifying its position, the group dismissed the opposition coalitions including the broad based African Democratic Congress (ADC) as unstable and lacking the legitimacy to mount a credible challenge to the ruling party.
It said, “The opposition coalition is not a viable alternative for two critical reasons: first, the ADC and similar parties are entangled in multiple legal battles that may render them unfit for elections.
“Second, no responsible Yoruba leader should support a coalition committed to unseating a Yoruba President.
“We cannot work against our own to support a Northern candidate who will likely continue the marginalisation of the South”.
