From Crisis To Clarity: Adeleke Charts New Course With Accord Party By Kehinde Adeoye

From Crisis To Clarity: Adeleke Charts New Course With Accord Party 

By Kehinde Adeoye 

In a development that reshapes Osun State’s political terrain, Governor Ademola Adeleke has formally declared for the Accord Party, ending his long-standing affiliation with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Adeleke’s decision comes on the heels of months of turbulence within the PDP at the national level. Persistent leadership disputes, parallel factions, and contradictory directives gradually eroded the party’s cohesion and cast uncertainty over its readiness for the 2026 governorship election.

What began as internal disagreements soon escalated into full-blown fractures, with rival camps each claiming national leadership and issuing conflicting instructions.

Faced with this deepening instability, Adeleke tendered his resignation from the PDP a few weeks ago. In his letter, he expressed gratitude for the platform that had supported his political rise, from his senatorial years to his current role as governor. However, he made clear that the ongoing crisis had rendered his continued membership untenable. The resignation immediately triggered conversations about his next political destination.

With mounting pressure from supporters and stakeholders urging him to seek a more stable platform, the governor has now declared for the Accord Party.

His entry was met with enthusiasm by many who described it as a major lift for the party and a defining moment for Osun’s political direction.

Governor Adeleke explained that he joined the Accord Party on November 6th after extensive consultations with stakeholders, noting that the party’s philosophy of welfarism aligns perfectly with his administration’s focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare. He emphasized that his move to Accord is driven by a desire to complete the ongoing delivery of democratic dividends across the state, adding that good governance, inclusive leadership, and the well-being of the people remain central to his mission.

The governor reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining development across all zones of Osun, Osun West, Osun East, and Osun Central, and described Accord as the new platform for progress, unity, and electoral victory in 2026. He expressed confidence that the people of Osun, who voted for good governance in 2022, will support continuity next year, stressing that Accord represents the collective desire of residents across all communities to uphold and expand the gains of his administration.

While delivering the Governor’s party membership card and flag, the National Chairman of the Accord Party, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, used a biblical allusion to describe Governor Adeleke as “a light set on a hill that cannot be hidden.” He maintained that the Governor’s second term is “inevitable” because he genuinely deserves it.

The State Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, also expressed immense delight at the development. He said it was certain that with this new move, Governor Adeleke is destined for another four years. He applauded the Governor’s tremendous infrastructural strides across the nooks and crannies of Osun State, adding that the progress will continue and that “before 12 p.m. on August 8, the party will sing songs of victory.”

Adeleke’s switch immediately transforms Accord into a formidable contender ahead of the 2026 election. The announcement also brings weeks of speculation about his political future to an end, with his supporters already shifting in alignment.

As political actors reposition for the coming electoral cycle, the Accord Party is expected to experience significant growth in the weeks ahead.

For Osun State, Adeleke’s defection marks the beginning of a new political chapter. For Accord, it signifies the arrival of a major figure with broad statewide appeal. And for the PDP, it underscores the consequence of prolonged internal disarray.

For Adeleke himself, the move appears to be a strategic step toward securing a stable, focused platform from which to seek a renewed mandate from the people of Osun

Kehinde Adeoye is the Special Assistant on Media and Digital Communication to the Secretary to the Osun State Government. He writes from Osogbo and he can be reached via davidic101@gmail.com.