Adeleke Shocks Political Scene: Dumps PDP for Accord Party Ahead of 2026 Race

By: Abudu Olalekan

It happened on a Tuesday evening. Governor Ademola Adeleke walked into the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Osun State and made an announcement that nobody saw coming. Well, maybe some people did. But it was official now. He was leaving his old political home. He’d joined the Accord Party. And he wasn’t just joining—he was running for re-election on their platform in 2026.

The room was packed. National leaders. State leaders. Everyone who matters in Osun politics showed up to witness it.

Here’s what Adeleke said, stripped down to basics: He’d made the switch more than a month ago. November 6th, to be exact. This wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment decision. He’d talked to stakeholders. Consulted opinion leaders. Deliberated for weeks. Then he decided. The Accord Party was the move.

Why though? That’s the real question.

According to Adeleke, it all came down to values. The Accord Party’s mission of welfarism matched his own focus. Workers’ welfare. Citizens’ welfare. That’s what gets him up in the morning, apparently. And he wanted a platform that shared that passion.

“Stakeholders and residents of Osun state are aware of why we are taking this important decision,” he explained, though he didn’t get super specific about the details. Fair enough. Politics works that way sometimes.

The governor painted a picture of what he’s accomplished. Infrastructure projects. Social services expanded. Workers getting paid better. The entire citizenry supposedly experiencing better governance than before. “Osun has never had it so good,” he claimed. Big statement. Bigger expectations for what comes next.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Adeleke didn’t just praise his own record. He talked about something bigger. A united front. An inclusive leadership. A government that actually cares about all groups—not just the powerful ones. That’s the vision he’s selling for round two.

The announcement itself was almost theatrical. He went through Osun’s geography like he was drawing a political map. Osun West. Osun East. Osun Central. Igbomina. Ijeshaland. Ifeland. Osogbo. Iwoland. Modakeke. Gbongan. Igbajo. Ikire. Ikirun. Ede. Every corner. Every community. Every voice matters, he seemed to be saying.

“From Osun West to Osun East to Osun Central, this is our party, our new platform for victory come August next year,” he declared.

Then came the confidence part. In 2022, Osun voted for good governance—presumably for him. Now, in 2026, he’s betting they’ll vote for continuity. That they’ll stick with what’s working. That the Accord Party will carry him across the finish line.

It’s a gamble, obviously. Switching parties always is. You lose some people. You gain others. You hope the math works out in August 2026.

What’s clear is that Adeleke believes the Accord Party’s philosophy aligns with his vision. Whether Osun voters agree when they hit the polls next year? That’s the million-naira question nobody can answer right now.

For now, the governor’s made his choice. He’s all in with Accord. And he’s betting the people are too.