By Peace Udugba -The Daily Torch Media
Former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has explained his decision to withdraw support for Governor Ademola Adeleke ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election.
Oyinlola accused Adeleke of joining the Accord Party without consulting key stakeholders, despite earlier discussions on alternative political platforms amid the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The former governor disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
According to Oyinlola, he had earlier held discussions with Adeleke and his brother, Deji, on four alternative platforms that could be used to contest the governorship election if the PDP crisis affected the party’s chances in Osun.
He said the platforms considered were the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Accord Party.
Oyinlola said he personally advocated for Accord because he believed the party would resonate with voters in Osun State.
“I think I had discussions with the governor and his brother, Deji, on four possibilities. We had some understanding on which of the platforms would be attractive, not to the party alone, but to the people of the state,” he said.
He added that the stakeholders had anticipated that the crisis at the national level within the PDP could affect the party’s performance in Osun.
“We foresaw this problem with the commencement of the turbulent weather that hit the PDP at the national level. So, we know for sure that it will permeate downwards,” Oyinlola said.
He explained that the stakeholders agreed to meet after Adeleke and his brother returned from abroad to determine which platform they would adopt.
According to him, he was therefore surprised to learn through social media that Adeleke had resigned from the PDP and joined Accord without another stakeholders’ meeting.
“Both of them were outside the country when we discussed. And we said, as soon as they come back, let’s have stakeholders meeting so that we can fine-tune how we report into which of the parties we want to use.
“Surprisingly, my governor came back from the U.S. Without any discussion, without any stakeholders meeting to fine-tune things the way we have agreed, I saw on the social media, like every other member, that my governor has resigned from the PDP and he has joined ACCORD.”
Oyinlola described Adeleke’s decision as another example of what he called a lack of inclusiveness in the administration’s political decision-making.
“Even though we were all thinking of what platform would best serve our interests, but it would only be nice to carry everybody along in that decision,” he said.
He added that some political appointees and office holders followed Adeleke into Accord, but efforts to bring all stakeholders together failed.
“Some, especially the appointees, political office holders, went with him into ACCORD. It was made to bring everybody together, but that failed.”
Why Oyinlola Backed Oyebamiji
Oyinlola’s comments came days after he led a faction of PDP stakeholders in Osun to endorse the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
The endorsement was announced at an event in Osogbo attended by Oyinlola, former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Fatai Akinbade, and former PDP National Vice Chairman, Southwest, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo.
Oyinlola said the group was not abandoning the PDP but had decided to support Oyebamiji based on conviction and what it considered the best interest of Osun State.
He said the decision was also influenced by what he described as a lack of inclusion in the Adeleke administration.
“And we felt we should exercise our conscience as stakeholders who have served the state. I do believe that at this particular moment, Osun State will require a different direction. That was why we did what we did,” he said.
Accord Party Reacts
The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has, however, dismissed the endorsement, insisting that it would not stop Adeleke’s re-election bid.
In a statement signed by the state chairman of the party, Victor Akande, the party alleged that Oyinlola, Akinbade and Oladipo had worked against Adeleke during the 2018 and 2022 governorship elections.
Akande claimed that the trio later returned to Adeleke’s camp after his victory in 2022 and benefited from the administration.
The Accord chairman described Oyinlola’s latest decision as having little political consequence and accused the former governor of returning to what he had previously abandoned.
The exchange has further heightened political tensions in Osun ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with the incumbent Adeleke facing a challenge from APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and other candidates.
