Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 presidential election. This move signals a notable shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, given the longstanding rivalry between the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The endorsement was announced during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Osogbo, where Adeleke and key PDP figures resolved to support Tinubu’s re-election bid. The decision was made in recognition of Tinubu’s leadership and Osun State’s ancestral ties to the President.
Despite speculation about potential defection to the APC, Adeleke reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP. He was unanimously endorsed by the Osun PDP for a second term in the 2026 governorship election.
The PDP in Osun State emphasized that the party remains the most popular and trusted force in the state. They directed their leadership to disseminate the resolution to all party structures across Osun.
This cross-party endorsement may redefine traditional party loyalties and signal a broader shift in regional power alignments. Observers believe it could pave the way for coalition-building and pragmatic alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.
The endorsement has sparked mixed reactions, with some analysts viewing it as a strategic move to secure federal support and foster inter-party cooperation at the regional level. Critics within the PDP have described it as a betrayal of party ideology and electoral strategy.
