OSOGBO, Nigeria — Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State in south-western Nigeria, has formally defected to the Accord Party just days after resigning his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of the state and the wider country.
Adeleke announced his move in a statement posted on his official social media account on X on Tuesday, December 10, 2025, declaring Accord his new political platform ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“Today, we unveiled the Accord Party, our new platform for the good people of Osun State. From Osun West to Osun East to Osun Central, this is our party, our new platform for victory come August next year,” he wrote.
The governor said his decision was driven by the need to sustain his administration’s agenda of governance, which he described as welfare-centred and aligned with the ideology of the Accord Party.
Adeleke said his welfare-driven approach matched the core values of his new party.
“We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare. Since I joined, I have been fascinated by the philosophy of this great party. The primary essence of government is the welfare and well-being of the people,” he said.
In the same statement, Adeleke welcomed the national leadership of the party into Osun State and urged unity as preparations begin for the next election cycle.
“I welcome the leadership of Accord from the national level into Osun state. You are now part of us as I am now part of you. We are united in progress and good intentions for the good people of Osun State and Nigeria at large,” he wrote.
“Our task is to sustain a united front as we prepare for future elections. We have a duty to ensure inclusive leadership where the interests of all groups are protected.
“Our party, the Accord Party, is here to take over Osun governance and sustain the delivery of good governance in our dear state.”
The defection follows Adeleke’s resignation from the PDP earlier this month.
In a letter addressed to the chairman of Ward 2 in Sagba Abogunde, Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State, he attributed his departure to internal leadership disputes within the party at the national level.
Although the contents of the letter did not outline specific grievances, the governor cited what he described as a deepening crisis within the PDP’s national leadership as the central reason for his exit.
Adeleke was elected governor on the platform of the PDP but has now become the only sitting governor under the Accord Party, a smaller political platform that until now had limited representation at the highest levels of government in Nigeria.
His defection alters the balance of power among the country’s major political parties. With this development, the ruling All Progressives Congress now controls 28 state governments. The PDP, once Nigeria’s dominant party, is left with four governors.
The Labour Party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the New Nigerian Peoples Party and the Accord Party now each have one sitting governor.
Political observers say Adeleke’s move could have significant implications for the 2026 Osun governorship election, particularly as parties begin to reorganise amid shifting alliances and internal realignments across the country.
There was no immediate response from the national leadership of the PDP to Adeleke’s defection as at press
